zhì
chopping block
Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 質 represents the sound.
Evolution

Seal script
Shuowen (~100 AD)Regular script
ModernDefinitions
mù
tree; wood, lumber; wooden
Mù
surname Mu
mù
tree; wood; coffin; wooden; simple; numb; one of the eight categories of ancient musical instruments 八音[bāyīn]
zhì
zhì
chopping block; chopping board
zhì
matter, material, substance
zhì
matter, material, substance
zhì
character; nature; quality; plain; to pawn; pledge; hostage; to question; Taiwan pr. [zhí]