Kanji

💡 Break 格 down and you get 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down, and beside it 各 (each) — one foot set down beside a mouth. Picture a tree with a broad green crown, put 格 inside it, and let that scene stand for "status" — status / standard. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a heart-shaped lantern glowing on its string, and set 疑 inside that picture. The scene is the hook: bring it back and 疑 comes with it, meaning "doubt".

💡 Break 過 down and you get 咼 (crooked / pass by) — a mouth turned off to one side, twisted out of its usual line, and beside it ⻌ (road / movement) — a road running along the bottom of the character. Picture a line of footprints running up to a marked stopping point and carrying on well beyond it, put 過 inside it, and let that scene stand for "pass" — pass / exceed / mistake. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 局 down and you get 尸 (body / house) — the low roof of a small dwelling, and beside it 句 (phrase / clause) — a mouthful of words folded closed into one wrapped phrase. Picture a house under its roof, put 局 inside it, and let that scene stand for "bureau" — bureau / station. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 放 down and you get 方 (direction / way) — a signpost with one arm pointing off, and beside it 攵 (strike / action) — a hand raised to make something happen. Picture a road disappearing through a tunnel cut into a hillside, put 放 inside it, and let that scene stand for "release" — release / broadcast. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 常 down and you get 尚 (still / esteemed) — smoke curling up through a little vent in the roof, and beside it 吊 (hang / suspend) — a banner hanging straight down from a crossbar. Picture the same patterned cloth hung out on the line three days running, put 常 inside it, and let that scene stand for "usual" — usual / always. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a page ruled into a ledger table: that is what 状 means — condition / letter. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, ⺦ (dog (compressed form)) — a small hooked mark, a dog curled tight into the corner, and beside it 犬 (dog) — a dog with its tail up. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 球 down and you get 王 (king / jewel) — a jewel on its stand, and beside it 求 (seek / request) — arms reaching out from every side toward one thing at the centre. Picture a cut jewel catching the light, put 球 inside it, and let that scene stand for "ball" — ball / sphere. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 職 down and you get 耳 (ear) — an ear turned towards the sound, and beside it 戠 (mark / distinguish) — a sound cut sharp and clear enough that everyone recognises it. Picture an ear turned towards an incoming sound, put 職 inside it, and let that scene stand for "employment" — employment / job. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 与 down and you get 一 (one / a line) — a single line, the very first mark. Picture an abacus with beads slid along its rods, put 与 inside it, and let that scene stand for "give" — give / provide. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.