Kanji

💡 Break 反 down and you get 厂 (cliff / shelter) — an overhanging cliff you can shelter under, and beside it 又 (right hand) — a hand closing round something. Picture an overhanging cliff with shelter beneath it, put 反 inside it, and let that scene stand for "anti-" — anti- / opposite. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 判 down and you get 半 (half) — a shape split cleanly down the middle, each half matching the other, and beside it 刂 (divide / cut) — a straight cut down the right-hand side. Picture a block split cleanly into two halves, put 判 inside it, and let that scene stand for "judgment" — judgment. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 認 down and you get 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth, and beside it 忍 (endure / patience) — a heart holding perfectly still under something sharp pressing close. Picture a bell ringing out to call for attention, put 認 inside it, and let that scene stand for "recognize" — recognize / approve. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 参 down and you get 厶 (private / self) — arms drawn in, keeping something to oneself. Picture two people standing side by side, put 参 inside it, and let that scene stand for "participate" — participate / visit. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 利 down and you get 禾 (grain / rice plant) — a stalk of grain bending under its ripe head, and beside it 刂 (divide / cut) — a straight cut down the right-hand side. Picture a ripe stalk of grain, put 利 inside it, and let that scene stand for "profit" — profit / advantage. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture two people standing side by side: that is what 組 means — assemble / group. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 糸 (thread / silk) — a thread wound on its spool, and beside it 且 (moreover / also) — a stack of shelves piled one above another. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 信 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth. Picture a standing figure resting a hand on an open scroll of words, put 信 inside it, and let that scene stand for "trust" — trust / believe. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 在 down and you get 土 (earth / soil) — a mound of earth pushed up from flat ground. Picture a mound of earth raised from flat ground, put 在 inside it, and let that scene stand for "exist" — exist / located in. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 件 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 牛 (cow / ox) — an ox with horns above its head. Picture a person mid-stride walking forward, put 件 inside it, and let that scene stand for "matter" — matter / case. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 側 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 則 (rule / standard) — a shell cut to one precise standard, a rule to measure every other by. Picture a person carrying a box held in both arms, put 側 inside it, and let that scene stand for "side" — side. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.