Kanji

💡 Break 箱 down and you get 竹 (bamboo) — two bamboo stalks with their leaves. Picture two bamboo stalks with their segments, put 箱 inside it, and let that scene stand for "box" — box. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 袋 down and you get 代 (generation / in place of) — a person standing beside a marker post driven into the ground, and beside it 衣 (clothing) — a garment with its collar and sleeves. Picture clothing folded neatly into a stack, put 袋 inside it, and let that scene stand for "bag" — bag. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 包 down and you get 勹 (wrap / enclose) — an arm curved around to wrap something close, and beside it 己 (self) — a shape curled back on itself. Picture two cupped hands together, offering something held between them, put 包 inside it, and let that scene stand for "wrap" — wrap. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 貨 down and you get 貝 (shell / money) — a shell, the money people once traded with. Picture a coin, the money things are traded for, put 貨 inside it, and let that scene stand for "freight" — freight / currency. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture two cupped hands together, offering something held between them: that is what 渡 means — hand over / cross. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 個 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene. Picture a single figure standing beside one sealed crate, closed solid on every side, put 個 inside it, and let that scene stand for "individual" — individual / counter. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 倍 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene. Picture a person bent forward from the waist in a bow, put 倍 inside it, and let that scene stand for "times" — times / double. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 幅 down and you get 巾 (cloth) — a cloth hanging down from its rail, and beside it 畐 (full / abundant) — a round-bellied jar packed full beneath its lid. Picture a cloth hanging from its rail, put 幅 inside it, and let that scene stand for "width" — width. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 装 down and you get 衣 (clothing) — a garment with its collar and sleeves. Picture clothing folded neatly into a stack, put 装 inside it, and let that scene stand for "attire" — attire / equip. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 備 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene. Picture a person bent forward from the waist in a bow, put 備 inside it, and let that scene stand for "provide" — provide / equip. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 材 down and you get 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down. Picture a tree with a broad green crown, put 材 inside it, and let that scene stand for "material" — material / timber. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 効 down and you get 交 (exchange / cross) — two legs crossed at the ankle, and beside it 力 (power / strength) — an arm flexed to show its strength. Picture a figure straining to lift a weight overhead, put 効 inside it, and let that scene stand for "effect" — effect. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 率 down and you get 玄 (mysterious / deep) — a small twist of thread knotted so tight you can't see into its centre, and beside it 冫 (ice) — two frozen droplets clinging to the side. Picture one rope leading a line of followers strung out behind it, put 率 inside it, and let that scene stand for "rate" — rate / lead. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 統 down and you get 糸 (thread / silk) — a thread wound on its spool. Picture a needle threaded and ready to sew, put 統 inside it, and let that scene stand for "unify" — unify / govern. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 領 down and you get 令 (order / command) — a figure seated under a roof, giving word, and beside it 頁 (head / page) — a head bent over a page. Picture a page ruled into a ledger table, put 領 inside it, and let that scene stand for "territory" — territory / domain. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture two people standing side by side: that is what 党 means — political party. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 尚 (still / esteemed) — smoke curling up through a little vent in the roof, and beside it 兄 (older brother) — an open mouth set above a pair of legs, first in line to speak. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 総 down and you get 糸 (thread / silk) — a thread wound on its spool. Picture a needle threaded and ready to sew, put 総 inside it, and let that scene stand for "total" — total / general. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 県 down and you get 小 (small) — three tiny specks, too small to matter. Picture counting beads above a counting board, put 県 inside it, and let that scene stand for "prefecture" — prefecture. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 設 down and you get 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth, and beside it 殳 (action / tool) — a hand swinging a tool. Picture a banner unfurled to announce something, put 設 inside it, and let that scene stand for "establish" — establish. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 改 down and you get 己 (self) — a shape curled back on itself, and beside it 攵 (strike / action) — a hand raised to make something happen. Picture a person with one arm raised, waving, put 改 inside it, and let that scene stand for "reform" — reform / change. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 府 down and you get 广 (building / lean-to) — a roof with one open side, built against a wall. Picture a boundary wall with a small roofed gateway standing open in the middle of it, put 府 inside it, and let that scene stand for "government office" — government office. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 委 down and you get 禾 (grain / rice plant) — a stalk of grain bending under its ripe head, and beside it 女 (woman) — a figure kneeling with arms folded. Picture a ripe stalk of grain, put 委 inside it, and let that scene stand for "committee" — committee / entrust. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 軍 down and you get 冖 (cover) — a cover laid over what is underneath, and beside it 車 (vehicle / wheel) — a cart seen from above, axle through the middle. Picture a building of two storeys, a small roof sitting above a wider one, put 軍 inside it, and let that scene stand for "army" — army. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a person bent forward from the waist in a bow: that is what 団 means — group / troupe. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 囗 (enclosure / border) — a wall drawn right round the outside, 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.

💡 Picture counting beads above a counting board: that is what 各 means — each. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 夂 (walk slowly) — a foot trailing behind the one in front, and beside it 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 島 down and you get 鳥 (bird) — a bird with its eye, wing and tail feathers, and beside it 山 (mountain) — three peaks rising side by side. Picture a small bird perched with its wing folded, put 島 inside it, and let that scene stand for "island" — island. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture clothing folded neatly into a stack: that is what 革 means — leather / reform. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 廿 (twenty) — two tens fused side by side under a single bar. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 再 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 再 inside it, and let that scene stand for "again" — again / re-. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 税 down and you get 禾 (grain / rice plant) — a stalk of grain bending under its ripe head, and beside it 兌 (exchange / pleased) — an open mouth held above a pair of legs, pleased and speaking out. Picture a ripe stalk of grain, put 税 inside it, and let that scene stand for "tax" — tax. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 比 down and you get 匕 (spoon / change) — a spoon turned over to tip out what it holds. Picture an open hand with the character resting in the palm, put 比 inside it, and let that scene stand for "compare" — compare / ratio. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a wall drawn right around what it holds: that is what 防 means — prevent / defend. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, ⻖ (hill / mound) — a terraced hill climbing at the left, and beside it 方 (direction / way) — a signpost with one arm pointing off. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 補 down and you get 衤 (clothing) — the edge of a garment at the left, and beside it 甫 (garden plot / broad) — a garden plot marked out square, staked at its centre. Picture a garment with its collar and sleeves, put 補 inside it, and let that scene stand for "supplement" — supplement. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 境 down and you get 土 (earth / soil) — a mound of earth pushed up from flat ground. Picture a mound of earth raised from flat ground, put 境 inside it, and let that scene stand for "boundary" — boundary. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 副 down and you get 畐 (full / abundant) — a round-bellied jar packed full beneath its lid, and beside it 刂 (divide / cut) — a straight cut down the right-hand side. Picture a cleaver blade cutting straight down through a block, put 副 inside it, and let that scene stand for "vice-" — vice- / secondary. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture an open ledger book ruled into counted columns: that is what 算 means — calculate. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 竹 (bamboo) — two bamboo stalks with their leaves. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 輸 down and you get 車 (vehicle / wheel) — a cart seen from above, axle through the middle, and beside it 兪 (smooth / hollowed out) — a small boat hollowed smooth, gliding easily along. Picture a cart on its wheels, put 輸 inside it, and let that scene stand for "transport" — transport. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a ripe stalk of grain: that is what 農 means — agriculture. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 曲 (bent / tune) — a woven container bent into curves along its whole length, and beside it 辰 (early morning / a turn of the season) — a curved blade angled into the earth, the first turn of a plough. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 径 down and you get 彳 (step / going) — the left half of a crossroads, where people walk, and beside it 圣 (hand at work) — a hand reaching down to press into the earth below it. Picture a milestone post standing beside the road, put 径 inside it, and let that scene stand for "diameter" — diameter / path. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 岸 down and you get 山 (mountain) — three peaks rising side by side. Picture mountain peaks rising side by side, put 岸 inside it, and let that scene stand for "shore" — shore. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 永 down and you get 丶 (dot) — a single dot marking the spot, and beside it 水 (water) — a stream of water with droplets on each side. Picture counting beads above a counting board, put 永 inside it, and let that scene stand for "eternal" — eternal. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 久 down and you get 𠂊 (claw / grasping hand) — a hooked stroke curling down like a claw reaching for something below. Picture two cupped hands together, offering something held between them, put 久 inside it, and let that scene stand for "long time" — long time. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 俳 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 非 (wrong / not) — two wings spread apart, feathers pointing in opposite directions. Picture a person with one arm raised, waving, put 俳 inside it, and let that scene stand for "haiku" — haiku / actor. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 評 down and you get 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth. Picture a banner unfurled to announce something, put 評 inside it, and let that scene stand for "evaluate" — evaluate / criticism. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 批 down and you get 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left. Picture two cupped hands together, offering something held between them, put 批 inside it, and let that scene stand for "criticize" — criticize. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 罪 down and you get 罒 (eye / net) — an eye laid on its side, watching from above, and beside it 非 (wrong / not) — two wings spread apart, feathers pointing in opposite directions. Picture an eye looking straight ahead, put 罪 inside it, and let that scene stand for "crime" — crime. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 罰 down and you get 罒 (eye / net) — an eye laid on its side, watching from above. Picture an eye looking straight ahead, put 罰 inside it, and let that scene stand for "punishment" — punishment. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 裁 down and you get 土 (earth / soil) — a mound of earth pushed up from flat ground, and beside it 衣 (clothing) — a garment with its collar and sleeves. Picture a mound of earth raised from flat ground, put 裁 inside it, and let that scene stand for "judge" — judge / tailor. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a ruler marking off a measured length: that is what 額 means — amount / forehead. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 頁 (head / page) — a head bent over a page. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Picture a drawstring purse with coins spilling from it: that is what 価 means — value / price. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 覀 (west / cover) — an upturned basket sitting low, like the sun settling in the west. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 貯 down and you get 貝 (shell / money) — a shell, the money people once traded with. Picture a drawstring purse with coins spilling from it, put 貯 inside it, and let that scene stand for "save" — save / store. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.