Kanji

💡 Break 容 down and you get 宀 (roof) — a roof stretched over the whole house, and beside it 谷 (valley) — two slopes falling away to a narrow gap between them. Picture a deep overhanging eave carried on two posts with its rafter ends showing, put 容 inside it, and let that scene stand for "contain" — contain / form. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 必 down and you get 心 (heart / feeling) — a heart, the seat of how you feel, and beside it 丿 (sweeping stroke) — a stroke sweeping down to the left. Picture a heart held inside a cord pulled taut and knotted, tied down so it cannot be done without, put 必 inside it, and let that scene stand for "certainly" — certainly / necessary. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 演 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge, and beside it 寅 (tiger (zodiac) / respect) — an arrow held straight and steady beneath a low roof. Picture rain falling from a cloud onto a rippling pond, put 演 inside it, and let that scene stand for "perform" — perform. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 歳 down and you get 止 (stop / step) — a footprint pressed into the ground, and beside it 戌 (dog (zodiac) / guard) — a long shaft with one extra notch marked partway down. Picture stepping stones leading forward one pace at a time, put 歳 inside it, and let that scene stand for "years old" — years old. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a figure straining to lift a weight overhead: that is what 争 means — dispute / compete. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 𠂊 (claw / grasping hand) — a hooked stroke curling down like a claw reaching for something below. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 談 down and you get 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth, and beside it 炎 (blaze / flame) — two flames stacked one above the other, burning twice as bright. Picture a megaphone broadcasting sound waves outward, put 談 inside it, and let that scene stand for "discussion" — discussion. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 能 is the picture: a sturdy, four-legged shape braced and ready to perform. Set it against a figure straining to lift a weight overhead and the shape carries its meaning, "ability", with it.

💡 Break 位 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 立 (stand) — a person standing firmly on the ground. Picture a flag raised high on its pole, put 位 inside it, and let that scene stand for "rank" — rank / position. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 置 down and you get 罒 (eye / net) — an eye laid on its side, watching from above, and beside it 直 (straight / fix) — an eye sighting straight down a line. Picture an eye looking straight ahead, put 置 inside it, and let that scene stand for "put" — put / place. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 流 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge, and beside it 㐬 (flowing / drifting) — a strand caught mid-stream, swept along and turned by the current. Picture a loose strand caught mid-stream, swirling and swept along by the current, put 流 inside it, and let that scene stand for "flow" — flow / current. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.