Kanji

💡 Break 質 down and you get 貝 (shell / money) — a shell, the money people once traded with. Picture goods weighed against a money shell on a balance scale, put 質 inside it, and let that scene stand for "quality" — quality. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 写 down and you get 冖 (cover) — a cover laid over what is underneath. Picture a deep overhanging eave carried on two posts with its rafter ends showing, put 写 inside it, and let that scene stand for "copy" — copy / photograph. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 者 down and you get 耂 (old / elder) — a bent back and a walking stick, an elder leaning as they walk, and beside it 日 (sun / day) — the sun framed by four strokes, marking one day. Picture a person with one arm raised, waving, put 者 inside it, and let that scene stand for "person" — person. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 借 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 昔 (olden times) — the sun sitting beneath layers of stacked, dried grass. Picture two people standing side by side, put 借 inside it, and let that scene stand for "borrow" — borrow. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 弱 down and you get 弓 (bow / arc) — a bow bent and ready to spring back. Picture a bow drawn and aimed straight ahead, put 弱 inside it, and let that scene stand for "weak" — weak. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 主 down and you get 亠 (lid / top) — a lid resting on the top, and beside it 王 (king / jewel) — a jewel on its stand. Picture a building of two storeys, a small roof sitting above a wider one, put 主 inside it, and let that scene stand for "main" — main / owner. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 取 down and you get 耳 (ear) — an ear turned towards the sound, and beside it 又 (right hand) — a hand closing round something. Picture a hand closing firmly around a basket's handle and lifting it, put 取 inside it, and let that scene stand for "take" — take. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 首 down and you get 自 (self / from) — a nose seen face-on, the shape people point to when they mean themselves. Picture a head and shoulders facing forward, its nose drawn boldly at the centre above a collar, put 首 inside it, and let that scene stand for "neck" — neck / head. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 秋 down and you get 禾 (grain / rice plant) — a stalk of grain bending under its ripe head, and beside it 火 (fire) — a fire with sparks flying off to both sides. Picture grain stalks bending under their ripe autumn heads, put 秋 inside it, and let that scene stand for "autumn" — autumn. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 終 down and you get 糸 (thread / silk) — a thread wound on its spool. Picture a spool of thread running out at its last strand, put 終 inside it, and let that scene stand for "end" — end. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.