JLPT N2 — Upper Intermediate

💡 Picture two people standing side by side: that is what 党 means — political party. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 尚 (still / esteemed) — smoke curling up through a little vent in the roof, and beside it 兄 (older brother) — an open mouth set above a pair of legs, first in line to speak. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 総 down and you get 糸 (thread / silk) — a thread wound on its spool. Picture a needle threaded and ready to sew, put 総 inside it, and let that scene stand for "total" — total / general. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 県 down and you get 小 (small) — three tiny specks, too small to matter. Picture counting beads above a counting board, put 県 inside it, and let that scene stand for "prefecture" — prefecture. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 設 down and you get 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth, and beside it 殳 (action / tool) — a hand swinging a tool. Picture a banner unfurled to announce something, put 設 inside it, and let that scene stand for "establish" — establish. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 改 down and you get 己 (self) — a shape curled back on itself, and beside it 攵 (strike / action) — a hand raised to make something happen. Picture a person with one arm raised, waving, put 改 inside it, and let that scene stand for "reform" — reform / change. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 府 down and you get 广 (building / lean-to) — a roof with one open side, built against a wall. Picture a boundary wall with a small roofed gateway standing open in the middle of it, put 府 inside it, and let that scene stand for "government office" — government office. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.