Kanji

💡 Break 階 down and you get ⻖ (hill / mound) — a terraced hill climbing at the left. Picture a terraced hillside, put 階 inside it, and let that scene stand for "floor" — floor / stairs. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 速 down and you get 束 (bundle / bind) — branches tied at the middle, and beside it ⻌ (road / movement) — a road running along the bottom of the character. Picture a pedestrian crossing marked with painted stripes, put 速 inside it, and let that scene stand for "fast" — fast. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 遅 down and you get ⻌ (road / movement) — a road running along the bottom of the character. Picture a road arching over a bridge across water, put 遅 inside it, and let that scene stand for "late" — late / slow. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 静 down and you get 青 (blue / green) — the clear blue of water and sky, and beside it 争 (dispute / compete) — two hands pulling hard on the same thing from opposite ends. Picture a drop of water above rippling waves, put 静 inside it, and let that scene stand for "quiet" — quiet. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 騒 down and you get 馬 (horse) — a horse with its mane and four legs. Picture a horse standing in profile, put 騒 inside it, and let that scene stand for "make noise" — make noise. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture an overhanging cliff with shelter beneath it: that is what 危 means — dangerous. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 𠂊 (claw / grasping hand) — a hooked stroke curling down like a claw reaching for something below. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 存 down and you get 子 (child) — a small child with arms held out. Picture a small child standing beside a ball, put 存 inside it, and let that scene stand for "exist" — exist. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 互 down and you get 二 (two) — two lines laid one above the other, and beside it 彑 (snout) — a pointed snout hooking down and back on itself. Picture an abacus with beads slid along its rods, put 互 inside it, and let that scene stand for "mutual" — mutual. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 更 down and you get 一 (one / a line) — a single line, the very first mark, and beside it 日 (sun / day) — the sun framed by four strokes, marking one day. Picture counting beads above a counting board, put 更 inside it, and let that scene stand for "further" — further / renew. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 寄 down and you get 宀 (roof) — a roof stretched over the whole house. Picture rows of curved roof tiles overlapping down from the ridge, put 寄 inside it, and let that scene stand for "approach" — approach / donate. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 贈 down and you get 貝 (shell / money) — a shell, the money people once traded with, and beside it 曽 (once / long ago) — several storeys stacked one above another over a single window. Picture a coin, the money things are traded for, put 贈 inside it, and let that scene stand for "give a gift" — give a gift. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 届 down and you get 尸 (body / house) — the low roof of a small dwelling, and beside it 由 (reason / from) — a seed case with a single shoot poking out through the top. Picture a boundary wall with a small roofed gateway standing open in the middle of it, put 届 inside it, and let that scene stand for "deliver" — deliver / reach. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture gusts of wind sweeping across: that is what 吹 means — blow. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening, and beside it 欠 (lack / open mouth) — a person leaning forward with their mouth open. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 掛 down and you get 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left. Picture a single hand cupped sideways as if scooping something up, put 掛 inside it, and let that scene stand for "hang" — hang / apply. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 捕 down and you get 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left, and beside it 甫 (garden plot / broad) — a garden plot marked out square, staked at its centre. Picture two cupped hands together, offering something held between them, put 捕 inside it, and let that scene stand for "catch" — catch. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 逃 down and you get 兆 (omen / sign) — a crack forking apart into two curling branches, and beside it ⻌ (road / movement) — a road running along the bottom of the character. Picture a road arching over a bridge across water, put 逃 inside it, and let that scene stand for "escape" — escape. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 追 down and you get ⻌ (road / movement) — a road running along the bottom of the character. Picture a road arching over a bridge across water, put 追 inside it, and let that scene stand for "chase" — chase. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 抜 down and you get 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left. Picture an open hand with the character resting in the palm, put 抜 inside it, and let that scene stand for "extract" — extract / surpass. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 折 down and you get 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left, and beside it 斤 (axe / weight) — a tool that splits a block apart. Picture an open hand with the character resting in the palm, put 折 inside it, and let that scene stand for "fold" — fold / break. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 曲 down and you get 日 (sun / day) — the sun framed by four strokes, marking one day, and beside it 廾 (two hands) — two hands lifting from below. Picture a bamboo flute bent along its length, put 曲 inside it, and let that scene stand for "bend" — bend / melody. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a hand with one finger extended, pointing: that is what 触 means — touch. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 角 (horn / corner) — a ridged horn, pointed and sharp at the corner where two lines meet, and beside it 虫 (insect) — a small insect with its round back. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 濡 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge. Picture rain falling from a cloud onto a rippling pond, put 濡 inside it, and let that scene stand for "get wet" — get wet. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture the sun half hidden behind a passing cloud, and set 乾 inside that picture. The scene is the hook: bring it back and 乾 comes with it, meaning "dry".

💡 Break 燃 down and you get 火 (fire) — a fire with sparks flying off to both sides. Picture a flame burning, put 燃 inside it, and let that scene stand for "burn" — burn. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 冷 down and you get 冫 (ice) — two frozen droplets clinging to the side, and beside it 令 (order / command) — a figure seated under a roof, giving word. Picture a block of ice with frost spreading from it, put 冷 inside it, and let that scene stand for "cold" — cold / chill. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 温 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge. Picture rain falling from a cloud onto a rippling pond, put 温 inside it, and let that scene stand for "warm" — warm. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 熱 down and you get 灬 (fire underneath) — four small flames licking up from below. Picture a flame burning, put 熱 inside it, and let that scene stand for "heat" — heat / fever. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 涼 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge, and beside it 京 (capital) — a tall hall above the rooftops. Picture a river bending past a stone in its current, put 涼 inside it, and let that scene stand for "cool" — cool. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 湿 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge. Picture a river bending past a stone in its current, put 湿 inside it, and let that scene stand for "damp" — damp. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture rain falling from a cloud: that is what 晴 means — clear weather. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 日 (sun / day) — the sun framed by four strokes, marking one day, and beside it 青 (blue / green) — the clear blue of water and sky. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 曇 down and you get 日 (sun / day) — the sun framed by four strokes, marking one day. Picture the sun glowing with a warm halo at dusk, put 曇 inside it, and let that scene stand for "cloudy" — cloudy. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 震 down and you get 雨 (rain) — droplets falling from under a cloud, and beside it 辰 (early morning / a turn of the season) — a curved blade angled into the earth, the first turn of a plough. Picture rain falling from a cloud, put 震 inside it, and let that scene stand for "quake" — quake / tremble. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 災 down and you get 巛 (stream) — three curling lines of water swirling instead of running straight, and beside it 火 (fire) — a fire with sparks flying off to both sides. Picture a stepping stone in the middle of a flowing river, put 災 inside it, and let that scene stand for "disaster" — disaster. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture an overhanging cliff with shelter beneath it: that is what 害 means — harm. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 宀 (roof) — a roof stretched over the whole house. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 被 down and you get 衤 (clothing) — the edge of a garment at the left, and beside it 皮 (skin / hide) — a hide pulled off in one piece. Picture clothing folded neatly into a stack, put 被 inside it, and let that scene stand for "suffer" — suffer / incur. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 救 down and you get 求 (seek / request) — arms reaching out from every side toward one thing at the centre, and beside it 攵 (strike / action) — a hand raised to make something happen. Picture two cupped hands together, offering something held between them, put 救 inside it, and let that scene stand for "rescue" — rescue. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 助 down and you get 且 (moreover / also) — a stack of shelves piled one above another, and beside it 力 (power / strength) — an arm flexed to show its strength. Picture a figure straining to lift a weight overhead, put 助 inside it, and let that scene stand for "help" — help. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a wall drawn right around what it holds: that is what 守 means — protect. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 宀 (roof) — a roof stretched over the whole house, and beside it 寸 (measure / inch) — a hand measuring a short distance. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 攻 down and you get 工 (craft / work) — a carpenter's tool held level, and beside it 攵 (strike / action) — a hand raised to make something happen. Picture a ruler marking off a measured length, put 攻 inside it, and let that scene stand for "attack" — attack. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 勢 down and you get 力 (power / strength) — an arm flexed to show its strength. Picture a weight lifted with strength, put 勢 inside it, and let that scene stand for "force" — force / momentum. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 量 down and you get 旦 (dawn) — the sun sitting right on the horizon line, freshly risen, and beside it 里 (village / league) — fields with a road running through the settlement. Picture the sun glowing with a warm halo at dusk, put 量 inside it, and let that scene stand for "quantity" — quantity. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 型 down and you get 刑 (punishment / model) — a blade held level beside a squared frame, a shape to be cut exactly to, and beside it 土 (earth / soil) — a mound of earth pushed up from flat ground. Picture a mound of earth raised from flat ground, put 型 inside it, and let that scene stand for "model" — model / type. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a page ruled into a ledger table: that is what 版 means — edition / version. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 反 (opposite / turn over) — a hand reaching under an overhang to flip something over. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Picture a document marked with an official stamp: that is what 刷 means — print. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 刂 (divide / cut) — a straight cut down the right-hand side. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Picture a rice field divided into four plots by its paths: that is what 枚 means — counter for flat objects. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down, and beside it 攵 (strike / action) — a hand raised to make something happen. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 冊 down and you get 冂 (enclosure) — an open-bottomed frame around the middle, and beside it 廾 (two hands) — two hands lifting from below. Picture bamboo slats bound together with cords into a scroll, put 冊 inside it, and let that scene stand for "counter for books" — counter for books. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 巻 down and you get 𠔉 (roll / curl shut) — a scroll curling shut over a kneeling figure, and beside it 己 (self) — a shape curled back on itself. Picture a file folder holding a stack of papers, put 巻 inside it, and let that scene stand for "roll" — roll / volume. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 票 down and you get 覀 (west / cover) — an upturned basket sitting low, like the sun settling in the west, and beside it 示 (altar / show) — something raised up where everyone can see it. Picture open sky with clouds drifting through it, put 票 inside it, and let that scene stand for "vote" — vote / ticket. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 券 down and you get 𠔉 (roll / curl shut) — a scroll curling shut over a kneeling figure, and beside it 刀 (blade / divide) — a clean line splitting something in two. Picture a document rolled into a scroll at both ends, put 券 inside it, and let that scene stand for "ticket" — ticket. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 荷 down and you get 艹 (grass / plant) — two shoots pushing up through the soil. Picture young plants pushing up out of the soil beside a garden label, put 荷 inside it, and let that scene stand for "load" — load / luggage. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.