Kanji

💡 Break 研 down and you get 石 (stone) — a rock sitting at the foot of a cliff. Picture a large stone, put 研 inside it, and let that scene stand for "sharpen" — sharpen / research. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 験 down and you get 馬 (horse) — a horse with its mane and four legs, and beside it 㑒 (gathered together) — several small figures huddled close together under one line. Picture a horse being put through its paces at a trial gate, put 験 inside it, and let that scene stand for "test" — test / verify. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 元 down and you get 二 (two) — two lines laid one above the other, and beside it 儿 (legs / person) — two legs walking out from underneath. Picture an open ledger book ruled into counted columns, put 元 inside it, and let that scene stand for "origin" — origin. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a banner unfurled to announce something: that is what 言 means — say / word. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 工 is the picture: a carpenter's tool held level. Set it against a level ruler balanced on a beam to check its true and the shape carries its meaning, "craft / construction", with it.

💡 A wide shelter with its arms stretched out to either side, opening up the space inside. 広 means wide.

💡 Picture an old man stroking his chin, deep in thought — 考 takes shape inside that scene and means "think".

💡 Break 合 down and you get 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening. Picture two mouths fitted together, combining into one, put 合 inside it, and let that scene stand for "fit" — fit / combine. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 黒 down and you get 里 (village / league) — fields with a road running through the settlement, and beside it 灬 (fire underneath) — four small flames licking up from below. Picture a rice field divided into four plots by its paths, put 黒 inside it, and let that scene stand for "black" — black. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 作 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 乍 (suddenly / make) — a jagged stroke stopped mid-line, work broken off in a sudden burst. Picture a person carrying a box held in both arms, put 作 inside it, and let that scene stand for "make" — make. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.