Kanji

💡 Break 絶 down and you get 糸 (thread / silk) — a thread wound on its spool. Picture thread wound onto a spool, put 絶 inside it, and let that scene stand for "cease" — cease / absolutely. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

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

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

💡 Break 慮 down and you get 虍 (tiger) — a tiger's striped head, seen from the front. Picture a four-legged animal standing in profile, put 慮 inside it, and let that scene stand for "consideration" — consideration. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 慎 down and you get 忄 (heart / feeling) — a heart standing upright at the left, and beside it 真 (true / genuine) — an eye set squarely on its stand, the same from every angle. Picture a heart-shaped lantern glowing on its string, put 慎 inside it, and let that scene stand for "be careful" — be careful. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 択 down and you get 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left, and beside it 尺 (measure / length) — a measure held against the thing being sized. Picture a hand with one finger extended, pointing, put 択 inside it, and let that scene stand for "select" — select. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 証 down and you get 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth, and beside it 正 (correct / just) — a foot stopped square on the line. Picture a banner unfurled to announce something, put 証 inside it, and let that scene stand for "proof" — proof / certificate. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 拠 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 拠 inside it, and let that scene stand for "basis" — basis / evidence. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 況 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge, and beside it 兄 (older brother) — an open mouth set above a pair of legs, first in line to speak. Picture rain falling from a cloud onto a rippling pond, put 況 inside it, and let that scene stand for "condition" — condition / situation. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 環 down and you get 王 (king / jewel) — a jewel on its stand. Picture a cut jewel catching the light, put 環 inside it, and let that scene stand for "ring" — ring / environment. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 維 down and you get 糸 (thread / silk) — a thread wound on its spool, and beside it 隹 (short-tailed bird) — a small bird perched with its wing folded. Picture a needle threaded and ready to sew, put 維 inside it, and let that scene stand for "maintain" — maintain / fiber. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 序 down and you get 广 (building / lean-to) — a roof with one open side, built against a wall, and beside it 予 (beforehand / give) — a shuttle passed forward from one hand to the next before it is needed. Picture a deep overhanging eave carried on two posts with its rafter ends showing, put 序 inside it, and let that scene stand for "order" — order / preface. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

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

💡 Break 純 down and you get 糸 (thread / silk) — a thread wound on its spool, and beside it 屯 (sprout / gather) — a stem coiled tight, struggling to straighten as it breaks the surface. Picture thread wound onto a spool, put 純 inside it, and let that scene stand for "pure" — pure. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 複 down and you get 衤 (clothing) — the edge of a garment at the left. Picture clothing folded neatly into a stack, put 複 inside it, and let that scene stand for "duplicate" — duplicate / compound. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 染 down and you get 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down. Picture a tree heavy with ripe fruit among its leaves, put 染 inside it, and let that scene stand for "dye" — dye / be infected. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 潔 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge. Picture a drop of water above rippling waves, put 潔 inside it, and let that scene stand for "clean" — clean / pure. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a block split cleanly into two halves: that is what 隔 means — separate / interval. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, ⻖ (hill / mound) — a terraced hill climbing at the left, and beside it 鬲 (cooking pot) — a three-legged pot standing steady with its lid fitted on top. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

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

💡 Break 限 down and you get ⻖ (hill / mound) — a terraced hill climbing at the left, and beside it 艮 (stubborn / firm) — a figure looking back over its shoulder, feet planted and refusing to move. Picture a terraced hillside, put 限 inside it, and let that scene stand for "limit" — limit. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 績 down and you get 糸 (thread / silk) — a thread wound on its spool, and beside it 責 (duty / blame) — a stem of thorns growing straight up out of a pile of shells and coins. Picture thread wound onto a spool, put 績 inside it, and let that scene stand for "achievement" — achievement. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 益 down and you get 皿 (dish / plate) — a dish standing on the table. Picture a steaming bowl of food, put 益 inside it, and let that scene stand for "benefit" — benefit / profit. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture an overhanging cliff with shelter beneath it: that is what 損 means — loss / damage. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 債 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 責 (duty / blame) — a stem of thorns growing straight up out of a pile of shells and coins. Picture a person bent forward from the waist in a bow, put 債 inside it, and let that scene stand for "debt" — debt / bond. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 融 down and you get 鬲 (cooking pot) — a three-legged pot standing steady with its lid fitted on top, and beside it 虫 (insect) — a small insect with its round back. Picture a steaming bowl of food, put 融 inside it, and let that scene stand for "finance" — finance / melt. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 株 down and you get 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down, and beside it 朱 (vermilion / red) — a single red mark cut into the heartwood of a tree. Picture a felled tree trunk lying beside its stump, put 株 inside it, and let that scene stand for "stock" — stock / share. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 含 down and you get 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening. Picture an open mouth, put 含 inside it, and let that scene stand for "include" — include. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 超 down and you get 走 (run) — someone running along the road. Picture a pedestrian crossing marked with painted stripes, put 超 inside it, and let that scene stand for "exceed" — exceed / super-. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 遇 down and you get ⻌ (road / movement) — a road running along the bottom of the character. Picture a road splitting into two forking paths, put 遇 inside it, and let that scene stand for "treatment" — treatment / encounter. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture an abacus with beads slid along its rods: that is what 偶 means — accidental / even number. 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.

💡 Break 恐 down and you get 心 (heart / feeling) — a heart, the seat of how you feel. Picture a heart with a heartbeat pulse line running through it, put 恐 inside it, and let that scene stand for "fear" — fear. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 怖 down and you get 忄 (heart / feeling) — a heart standing upright at the left. Picture a heart-shaped lantern glowing on its string, put 怖 inside it, and let that scene stand for "scary" — scary. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 嘆 down and you get 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening. Picture an open mouth, put 嘆 inside it, and let that scene stand for "lament" — lament. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 悩 down and you get 忄 (heart / feeling) — a heart standing upright at the left. Picture a heart-shaped lantern glowing on its string, put 悩 inside it, and let that scene stand for "worry" — worry / be troubled. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 惑 down and you get 心 (heart / feeling) — a heart, the seat of how you feel. Picture a heart with a heartbeat pulse line running through it, put 惑 inside it, and let that scene stand for "perplexed" — perplexed. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 慰 down and you get 心 (heart / feeling) — a heart, the seat of how you feel. Picture a heart with a heartbeat pulse line running through it, put 慰 inside it, and let that scene stand for "comfort" — comfort. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 憎 down and you get 忄 (heart / feeling) — a heart standing upright at the left, and beside it 曽 (once / long ago) — several storeys stacked one above another over a single window. Picture a heart with a heartbeat pulse line running through it, put 憎 inside it, and let that scene stand for "hate" — hate. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

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

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

💡 Break 援 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 援 inside it, and let that scene stand for "aid" — aid / assist. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a perimeter fence enclosing the yard: that is what 護 means — protect. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 失 down and you get 丿 (sweeping stroke) — a stroke sweeping down to the left. Picture tally marks counted off in groups of five, put 失 inside it, and let that scene stand for "lose" — lose. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 誤 down and you get 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth. Picture a megaphone broadcasting sound waves outward, put 誤 inside it, and let that scene stand for "error" — error / mistake. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

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

💡 Break 礼 down and you get 礻 (show / sign) — a sign standing at the left of the character, and beside it 乙 (bend / second) — a stroke that bends before it finishes. Picture a figure standing on a raised platform, put 礼 inside it, and let that scene stand for "courtesy" — courtesy / thanks. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a figure standing on a raised platform: that is what 儀 means — ceremony / manner. 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 義 (righteousness / justice) — a sheep held up as the standard everyone measures fairness against. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 緊 down and you get 糸 (thread / silk) — a thread wound on its spool. Picture thread wound onto a spool, put 緊 inside it, and let that scene stand for "tense" — tense / tight. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

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

💡 Break 縮 down and you get 糸 (thread / silk) — a thread wound on its spool. Picture thread wound onto a spool, put 縮 inside it, and let that scene stand for "shrink" — shrink. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 縄 down and you get 糸 (thread / silk) — a thread wound on its spool. Picture thread wound onto a spool, put 縄 inside it, and let that scene stand for "rope" — rope. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.