Kanji

💡 Break 店 down and you get 广 (building / lean-to) — a roof with one open side, built against a wall, and beside it 占 (occupy / foretell) — a diviner's crack placed right over a spot, claiming it. Picture a building of two storeys, a small roof sitting above a wider one, put 店 inside it, and let that scene stand for "shop" — shop. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 転 down and you get 車 (vehicle / wheel) — a cart seen from above, axle through the middle, and beside it 云 (cloud / say) — wisps of cloud curling and layering in the sky. Picture a cart on its wheels, put 転 inside it, and let that scene stand for "turn" — turn / fall. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 都 down and you get 者 (person doing it) — someone standing over their work, and beside it ⻏ (village / town) — a walled town climbing the slope at the right edge of the character. Picture a terraced hillside, put 都 inside it, and let that scene stand for "metropolis" — metropolis. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a ruler marking off a measured length: that is what 度 means — degree / times. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 广 (building / lean-to) — a roof with one open side, built against a wall. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 答 down and you get 竹 (bamboo) — two bamboo stalks with their leaves, and beside it 合 (fit / combine) — a lid come down flush on its pot. Picture two bamboo stalks with their segments, put 答 inside it, and let that scene stand for "answer" — answer. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 冬 down and you get 夂 (walk slowly) — a foot trailing behind the one in front, and beside it 冫 (ice) — two frozen droplets clinging to the side. Picture stepping stones leading forward one pace at a time, put 冬 inside it, and let that scene stand for "winter" — winter. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a pedestrian crossing marked with painted stripes: that is what 動 means — move. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 重 (heavy / repeat) — a load pressing down on the ground, and beside it 力 (power / strength) — an arm flexed to show its strength. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 堂 down and you get 尚 (still / esteemed) — smoke curling up through a little vent in the roof, and beside it 土 (earth / soil) — a mound of earth pushed up from flat ground. Picture a house under its roof, put 堂 inside it, and let that scene stand for "hall" — hall. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a written page: that is what 働 means — work. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 特 down and you get 牛 (cow / ox) — an ox with horns above its head, and beside it 寺 (temple / hold) — a hall standing on measured ground. Picture a four-legged animal standing in profile, put 特 inside it, and let that scene stand for "special" — special. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.