Kanji

💡 Break 観 down and you get 見 (see / look) — an eye on legs, walking out to take a look. Picture an eye looking straight ahead, put 観 inside it, and let that scene stand for "observe" — observe / view. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 築 down and you get 筑 (build / construct) — bamboo poles gripped tight in both hands, being fitted into place, and beside it 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down. Picture two bamboo stalks with their segments, put 築 inside it, and let that scene stand for "build" — build / construct. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 導 down and you get 道 (road / path) — a road winding past, with a head raised to look down its length, and beside it 寸 (measure / inch) — a hand measuring a short distance. Picture a road disappearing through a tunnel cut into a hillside, put 導 inside it, and let that scene stand for "guide" — guide / lead. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 景 down and you get 日 (sun / day) — the sun framed by four strokes, marking one day, and beside it 京 (capital) — a tall hall above the rooftops. Picture the sun glowing with a warm halo at dusk, put 景 inside it, and let that scene stand for "scenery" — scenery. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a coin, the money things are traded for: that is what 値 means — value / price. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 直 (straight / fix) — an eye sighting straight down a line. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 渉 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge, and beside it 歩 (step / walk) — two footprints set one just ahead of the other, mid-stride. Picture water falling from a rock ledge into the pool below it, put 渉 inside it, and let that scene stand for "cross" — cross / negotiate. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 雑 down and you get 隹 (short-tailed bird) — a small bird perched with its wing folded. Picture a small bird perched with its wing folded, put 雑 inside it, and let that scene stand for "miscellaneous" — miscellaneous / rough. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 誌 down and you get 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth, and beside it 志 (will / intention) — a firm stance held steady right over the heart. Picture a banner unfurled to announce something, put 誌 inside it, and let that scene stand for "magazine" — magazine. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 困 down and you get 囗 (enclosure / border) — a wall drawn right round the outside, and beside it 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down. Picture a wall drawn right around what it holds, put 困 inside it, and let that scene stand for "be troubled" — be troubled. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 吸 down and you get 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening, and beside it 及 (reach / catch up to) — a hand stretching out just far enough to catch up with what's ahead. Picture an open mouth, put 吸 inside it, and let that scene stand for "inhale" — inhale. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.