seize, copy

抄 is composed of the radical 手 (hand) and 少 (few). 手 signifies grasping or taking, while 少 is a pictograph of four tiny particles, implying a small amount or scarcity. Items obtained through plundering are often limited in quantity, so 抄 refers to plundering or seizing. Additionally, copying or transcribing someone else’s text can also be represented by 抄, as it involves taking others’ words.