Kanji

💡 Picture a figure straining to lift a weight overhead: that is what 強 means — strong. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 弓 (bow / arc) — a bow bent and ready to spring back. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 教 down and you get 攵 (strike / action) — a hand raised to make something happen. Picture an elder tap-tapping a lesson into a child, put 教 inside it, and let that scene stand for "teach" — teach. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a file folder holding a stack of papers, and set 業 inside that picture. The scene is the hook: bring it back and 業 comes with it, meaning "business / industry".

💡 Break 近 down and you get 斤 (axe / weight) — a tool that splits a block apart, and beside it ⻌ (road / movement) — a road running along the bottom of the character. Picture a footstep about to land right next to a felled log, put 近 inside it, and let that scene stand for "near" — near. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 銀 down and you get 金 (metal / gold) — metal kept under a roof — something precious, and beside it 艮 (stubborn / firm) — a figure looking back over its shoulder, feet planted and refusing to move. Picture a bar of metal, put 銀 inside it, and let that scene stand for "silver" — silver. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a rice field divided into four plots by its paths: that is what 区 means — ward / district. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 匸 (hidden / boxed away) — a box left open on one side, tucked low to hide what is inside, and beside it 乂 (cut / trim) — two strokes crossing in an X, like shears snapped shut. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Picture a ruler marking off a measured length: that is what 計 means — measure / plan. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth, and beside it 十 (ten / cross) — two lines crossing at the centre. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 兄 down and you get 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening, and beside it 儿 (legs / person) — two legs walking out from underneath. Picture an open mouth, put 兄 inside it, and let that scene stand for "older brother" — older brother. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 軽 down and you get 車 (vehicle / wheel) — a cart seen from above, axle through the middle, and beside it 圣 (hand at work) — a hand reaching down to press into the earth below it. Picture a cart tipped up by a feather resting on its axle, put 軽 inside it, and let that scene stand for "light (weight)" — light (weight). The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 A dog (大 with a leash dot) wagging. 犬 means dog.