Kanji

💡 Break 三 down and you get 一 (one / a line) — a single line, the very first mark. Picture tally marks counted off in groups of five, put 三 inside it, and let that scene stand for "three" — three. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 四 down and you get 囗 (enclosure / border) — a wall drawn right round the outside, and beside it 儿 (legs / person) — two legs walking out from underneath. Picture a perimeter fence enclosing the yard, put 四 inside it, and let that scene stand for "four" — four. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 五 down and you get 二 (two) — two lines laid one above the other. Picture counting beads above a counting board, put 五 inside it, and let that scene stand for "five" — five. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 六 down and you get 亠 (lid / top) — a lid resting on the top, and beside it 八 (eight / split) — two strokes opening away from each other. Picture a building topped with a flat railed terrace, put 六 inside it, and let that scene stand for "six" — six. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 七 down and you get 一 (one / a line) — a single line, the very first mark, and beside it 乙 (bend / second) — a stroke that bends before it finishes. Picture an open ledger book ruled into counted columns, put 七 inside it, and let that scene stand for "seven" — seven. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 八 is the picture: two strokes opening away from each other. Set it against an open ledger book ruled into counted columns and the shape carries its meaning, "eight", with it.

💡 Break 九 down and you get 丿 (sweeping stroke) — a stroke sweeping down to the left, and beside it 乙 (bend / second) — a stroke that bends before it finishes. Picture tally marks counted off in groups of five, put 九 inside it, and let that scene stand for "nine" — nine. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 十 is the picture: two lines crossing at the centre. Set it against tally marks counted off in groups of five and the shape carries its meaning, "ten", with it.

💡 Break 百 down and you get 一 (one / a line) — a single line, the very first mark, and beside it 白 (white / bright) — the first pale light of the sun. Picture an abacus with beads slid along its rods, put 百 inside it, and let that scene stand for "hundred" — hundred. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 千 down and you get 丿 (sweeping stroke) — a stroke sweeping down to the left, and beside it 十 (ten / cross) — two lines crossing at the centre. Picture an open ledger book ruled into counted columns, put 千 inside it, and let that scene stand for "thousand" — thousand. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.