spend, fee, expenses

費 is composed of 弗 (no) and 貝 (shell). 弗 depicts two wooden posts tightly bound with ropes to prevent them from bending, and carries the meaning of removing what is not straight. 貝 represents wealth or valuables. Therefore, 費 conveys the idea of dispersing wealth. Its original meaning is to spend money, and later it extended to the meanings of consumption and expenses or funds.