Kanji

💡 Picture a cut jewel catching the light: that is what 貴 means — precious / noble. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 貝 (shell / money) — a shell, the money people once traded with. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 賃 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 賃 inside it, and let that scene stand for "wages" — wages / rent. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 販 down and you get 貝 (shell / money) — a shell, the money people once traded with, and beside it 反 (opposite / turn over) — a hand reaching under an overhang to flip something over. Picture a drawstring purse with coins spilling from it, put 販 inside it, and let that scene stand for "sell" — sell / market. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 購 down and you get 貝 (shell / money) — a shell, the money people once traded with, and beside it 冓 (interlocking / framework) — crossed beams stacked and interlocked, a frame ready to build on. Picture a coin, the money things are traded for, put 購 inside it, and let that scene stand for "purchase" — purchase. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 貿 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 貿 inside it, and let that scene stand for "trade" — trade. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 為 down and you get 丶 (dot) — a single dot marking the spot, and beside it 勹 (wrap / enclose) — an arm curved around to wrap something close. Picture an abacus with beads slid along its rods, put 為 inside it, and let that scene stand for "do" — do / sake of. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 替 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 替 inside it, and let that scene stand for "exchange" — exchange / replace. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 換 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 換 inside it, and let that scene stand for "exchange" — exchange / convert. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

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

💡 Break 込 down and you get 入 (enter) — a wedge driven in at an angle, pushing through the doorway, and beside it ⻌ (road / movement) — a road running along the bottom of the character. Picture a road disappearing through a tunnel cut into a hillside, put 込 inside it, and let that scene stand for "crowded" — crowded / included. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a drawstring purse with coins spilling from it: that is what 払 means — pay / clear away. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left, and beside it 厶 (private / self) — arms drawn in, keeping something to oneself. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 促 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 足 (foot / leg) — a knee and a foot, ready to step. Picture the plain outline of a person standing, put 促 inside it, and let that scene stand for "urge" — urge / promote. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture an open hand with the character resting in the palm: that is what 催 means — hold (an event). Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Picture a flag raised high on its pole: that is what 展 means — expand / display. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 尸 (body / house) — the low roof of a small dwelling. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 提 down and you get 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left, and beside it 是 (this / right here) — a footprint planted directly beneath the sun, marking exactly this spot. Picture an open hand with the character resting in the palm, put 提 inside it, and let that scene stand for "present" — present / propose. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 需 down and you get 雨 (rain) — droplets falling from under a cloud. Picture rain falling from a cloud, put 需 inside it, and let that scene stand for "demand" — demand. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 給 down and you get 糸 (thread / silk) — a thread wound on its spool, and beside it 合 (fit / combine) — a lid come down flush on its pot. Picture thread wound onto a spool, put 給 inside it, and let that scene stand for "supply" — supply / wage. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 請 down and you get 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth, and beside it 青 (blue / green) — the clear blue of water and sky. Picture two speech bubbles overlapping in a conversation, put 請 inside it, and let that scene stand for "request" — request / undertake. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 応 down and you get 广 (building / lean-to) — a roof with one open side, built against a wall, and beside it 心 (heart / feeling) — a heart, the seat of how you feel. Picture a house under its roof, put 応 inside it, and let that scene stand for "respond" — respond / apply. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 募 down and you get 力 (power / strength) — an arm flexed to show its strength. Picture a figure straining to lift a weight overhead, put 募 inside it, and let that scene stand for "recruit" — recruit / collect. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 講 down and you get 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth, and beside it 冓 (interlocking / framework) — crossed beams stacked and interlocked, a frame ready to build on. Picture two speech bubbles overlapping in a conversation, put 講 inside it, and let that scene stand for "lecture" — lecture. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 修 down and you get 攸 (guided / far off) — a person nudged gently forward by a hand at their back. Picture a hand with one finger extended, pointing, put 修 inside it, and let that scene stand for "study" — study / repair. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 訓 down and you get 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth, and beside it 川 (river) — three lines of water flowing downhill. Picture a megaphone broadcasting sound waves outward, put 訓 inside it, and let that scene stand for "instruction" — instruction. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a cart on its wheels: that is what 練 means — train / polish. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 糸 (thread / silk) — a thread wound on its spool, and beside it 東 (east) — the sun caught behind the branches of a tree. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 了 down and you get 亅 (hook) — a line that hooks back at the bottom. Picture an abacus with beads slid along its rods, put 了 inside it, and let that scene stand for "finish" — finish / understand. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

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

💡 Picture a coin, the money things are traded for: that is what 富 means — wealth. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 宀 (roof) — a roof stretched over the whole house, and beside it 畐 (full / abundant) — a round-bellied jar packed full beneath its lid. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 貧 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 貧 inside it, and let that scene stand for "poor" — poor. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 豊 down and you get 曲 (bent / tune) — a woven container bent into curves along its whole length, and beside it 豆 (bean / vessel) — a footed vessel holding the food. Picture a steaming bowl of food, put 豊 inside it, and let that scene stand for "abundant" — abundant. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 余 down and you get 人 (person) — a person standing on two legs. Picture a person with one arm raised, waving, put 余 inside it, and let that scene stand for "surplus" — surplus / remainder. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 蓄 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 蓄 inside it, and let that scene stand for "store up" — store up. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 戸 is the picture: a single door on its hinge. Set it against a gateway standing open and the shape carries its meaning, "door / household", with it.

💡 Break 層 down and you get 尸 (body / house) — the low roof of a small dwelling, and beside it 曽 (once / long ago) — several storeys stacked one above another over a single window. Picture a house under its roof, put 層 inside it, and let that scene stand for "layer" — layer / stratum. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 架 down and you get 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down. Picture a felled tree trunk lying beside its stump, put 架 inside it, and let that scene stand for "build" — build / span. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 柱 down and you get 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down, and beside it 主 (master / main) — a lamp on its stand, the room built round it. Picture a small grove of three trees clustered together, put 柱 inside it, and let that scene stand for "pillar" — pillar. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 壁 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 壁 inside it, and let that scene stand for "wall" — wall. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a boundary wall with a small roofed gateway standing open in the middle of it: that is what 塔 means — tower. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 土 (earth / soil) — a mound of earth pushed up from flat ground, and beside it 荅 (answer / match) — a covering pressed down flush over a shoot of grass, fitted just right. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Picture rows of curved roof tiles overlapping down from the ridge: that is what 城 means — castle. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 土 (earth / soil) — a mound of earth pushed up from flat ground. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Picture a house under its roof: that is what 舎 means — building / cottage. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 人 (person) — a person standing on two legs, and beside it 吉 (good luck) — a confident stance held right over an open, smiling mouth. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 敷 down and you get 攵 (strike / action) — a hand raised to make something happen. Picture a single hand cupped sideways as if scooping something up, put 敷 inside it, and let that scene stand for "spread" — spread / lay out. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 床 down and you get 广 (building / lean-to) — a roof with one open side, built against a wall, and beside it 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down. Picture a boundary wall with a small roofed gateway standing open in the middle of it, put 床 inside it, and let that scene stand for "floor" — floor / bed. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 畳 down and you get 田 (rice field) — a field cut into four plots by its paths. Picture a field terraced into steps up a hillside, put 畳 inside it, and let that scene stand for "tatami" — tatami. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 宅 down and you get 宀 (roof) — a roof stretched over the whole house. Picture a building of two storeys, a small roof sitting above a wider one, put 宅 inside it, and let that scene stand for "home" — home / residence. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 宿 down and you get 宀 (roof) — a roof stretched over the whole house. Picture a deep overhanging eave carried on two posts with its rafter ends showing, put 宿 inside it, and let that scene stand for "inn" — inn / lodge. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 泊 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge, and beside it 白 (white / bright) — the first pale light of the sun. Picture a drop of water above rippling waves, put 泊 inside it, and let that scene stand for "stay overnight" — stay overnight. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 滞 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 滞 inside it, and let that scene stand for "stagnate" — stagnate / stay. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a road arching over a bridge across water: that is what 移 means — move / shift. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 禾 (grain / rice plant) — a stalk of grain bending under its ripe head. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Picture two cupped hands together, offering something held between them: that is what 就 means — take a position. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 京 (capital) — a tall hall above the rooftops. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 雇 down and you get 戸 (door / household) — a single door on its hinge, and beside it 隹 (short-tailed bird) — a small bird perched with its wing folded. Picture a single door, put 雇 inside it, and let that scene stand for "employ" — employ. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

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