Kanji

💡 Break 低 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene. Picture a person crouched low beneath a baseline, put 低 inside it, and let that scene stand for "low" — low. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture stepping stones leading forward one pace at a time: that is what 止 means — stop. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 卜 (divining / mark) — a mark made to read what it means. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Picture a road splitting into two forking paths: that is what 歩 means — walk. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 止 (stop / step) — a footprint pressed into the ground. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Picture a single hand cupped sideways as if scooping something up: that is what 使 means — use. 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 始 down and you get 女 (woman) — a figure kneeling with arms folded, and beside it 台 (stand / platform) — a raised block to set things on. Picture a woman starting the very first stitch of a seam, put 始 inside it, and let that scene stand for "begin" — begin. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 建 down and you get 聿 (brush / writing) — a hand holding a brush over the paper, and beside it 廴 (stretch / extend) — a road dragged out longer, stretching past where it would normally stop. Picture a milestone post standing beside the road, put 建 inside it, and let that scene stand for "build" — build. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture the sun sitting low behind a mountain ridge: that is what 光 means — light / shine. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, ⺌ (small) — three little strokes, small things scattered. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 夏 down and you get 夂 (walk slowly) — a foot trailing behind the one in front. Picture a wide-brimmed straw hat with the summer sun overhead, put 夏 inside it, and let that scene stand for "summer" — summer. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.