Answer:
a) 婆 -> 如 -> 呈 -> 珠
婆 BA - old woman
如 JO, NYO - equal, like, as, as if
呈 TEI - offer, present, exhibit
珠 SHU - pearl
b) 菓 -> 柱 -> 青 -> 胞
菓 KA - cake, fruit
柱 CHUU, hashira - pillar, column, pole
青 SEI, SHOU, ao(i) - blue
胞 HOU - sac, sheath, placenta