Kanji

💡 Break 文 down and you get 亠 (lid / top) — a lid resting on the top, and beside it 乂 (cut / trim) — two strokes crossing in an X, like shears snapped shut. Picture a building of two storeys, a small roof sitting above a wider one, put 文 inside it, and let that scene stand for "sentence" — sentence / culture. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 別 down and you get 刂 (divide / cut) — a straight cut down the right-hand side. Picture a cleaver blade cutting straight down through a block, put 別 inside it, and let that scene stand for "separate" — separate / different. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 勉 down and you get 力 (power / strength) — an arm flexed to show its strength. Picture a figure straining to lift a weight overhead, put 勉 inside it, and let that scene stand for "effort" — effort. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a pedestrian crossing marked with painted stripes: that is what 方 means — direction / person. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 亠 (lid / top) — a lid resting on the top. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 法 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge, and beside it 去 (leave / past) — a lid lifted off and carried away. Picture a jar's lid lifted off and floating away on the current, put 法 inside it, and let that scene stand for "law" — law / method. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 妹 down and you get 女 (woman) — a figure kneeling with arms folded, and beside it 未 (not yet) — a tree whose top branch has not filled out. Picture a person carrying a box held in both arms, put 妹 inside it, and let that scene stand for "younger sister" — younger sister. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 味 down and you get 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening, and beside it 未 (not yet) — a tree whose top branch has not filled out. Picture an open mouth, put 味 inside it, and let that scene stand for "taste" — taste. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 民 down and you get 氏 (clan / family name) — a curved line hooking back on itself, one family bound into a single shape. Picture a ring of faceless people all holding one rope that loops back and hooks on itself, put 民 inside it, and let that scene stand for "people" — people / nation. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 The sun (日) and moon (月) together give the most light. 明 means bright or clear.

💡 Break 問 down and you get 門 (gate) — a double gate with both doors closed, and beside it 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening. Picture a gateway standing open, put 問 inside it, and let that scene stand for "question" — question. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.