Kanji

💡 Picture an overhanging cliff with shelter beneath it: that is what 冒 means — risk / brave. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 日 (sun / day) — the sun framed by four strokes, marking one day, and beside it 目 (eye) — an eye stood on its end, pupil lines inside. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 陣 down and you get ⻖ (hill / mound) — a terraced hill climbing at the left, and beside it 車 (vehicle / wheel) — a cart seen from above, axle through the middle. Picture a terraced hillside, put 陣 inside it, and let that scene stand for "camp" — camp / formation. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 掌 down and you get 尚 (still / esteemed) — smoke curling up through a little vent in the roof, and beside it 手 (hand) — a hand with its fingers and wrist. Picture rows of curved roof tiles overlapping down from the ridge, put 掌 inside it, and let that scene stand for "palm" — palm / control. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a cart on its wheels: that is what 錬 means — refine / train. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 金 (metal / gold) — metal kept under a roof — something precious, and beside it 東 (east) — the sun caught behind the branches of a tree. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Picture a cart on its wheels: that is what 鍛 means — forge / train. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 金 (metal / gold) — metal kept under a roof — something precious, and beside it 段 (step / stage) — a cliff face cut into a series of even steps, one leading up to the next. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 糾 down and you get 糸 (thread / silk) — a thread wound on its spool, and beside it 丩 (entangle / twist) — two strands twisted and crossed around each other. Picture thread wound onto a spool, put 糾 inside it, and let that scene stand for "twist" — twist / examine. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 弾 down and you get 弓 (bow / arc) — a bow bent and ready to spring back, and beside it 単 (single / simple) — one lantern hung from a tall pole, standing by itself. Picture a bow drawn and aimed straight ahead, put 弾 inside it, and let that scene stand for "bullet" — bullet / play (instrument). The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 劾 down and you get 亥 (boar (zodiac)) — a boar's bent back and tusks, seen from the side, and beside it 力 (power / strength) — an arm flexed to show its strength. Picture a weight lifted with strength, put 劾 inside it, and let that scene stand for "censure" — censure. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 罷 down and you get 罒 (eye / net) — an eye laid on its side, watching from above, and beside it 能 (ability / capable) — a sturdy, four-legged shape braced and ready to perform. Picture an eye looking straight ahead, put 罷 inside it, and let that scene stand for "quit" — quit / dismiss. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 迭 down and you get 失 (lose / miss) — an arrow that has slipped loose, veering off its usual line, and beside it ⻌ (road / movement) — a road running along the bottom of the character. Picture a road splitting into two forking paths, put 迭 inside it, and let that scene stand for "alternate" — alternate. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.