Kanji

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

💡 Break 帆 down and you get 巾 (cloth) — a cloth hanging down from its rail, and beside it 凡 (ordinary / everyday) — a plain sail stretched flat across its frame, nothing special about it. Picture a boat under sail, put 帆 inside it, and let that scene stand for "sail" — sail. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 幣 down and you get 敝 (worn / tattered) — a cloth beaten so often its threads have started to fray, and beside it 巾 (cloth) — a cloth hanging down from its rail. Picture a cloth hanging from its rail, put 幣 inside it, and let that scene stand for "currency" — currency / offering. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 幻 down and you get 幺 (tiny / faint) — a short loop of thread, too fine and small to hold much. Picture a needle threaded and ready to sew, put 幻 inside it, and let that scene stand for "illusion" — illusion. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 幽 down and you get 山 (mountain) — three peaks rising side by side, and beside it 幺 (tiny / faint) — a short loop of thread, too fine and small to hold much. Picture mountain peaks rising side by side, put 幽 inside it, and let that scene stand for "faint" — faint / confine. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 庄 down and you get 广 (building / lean-to) — a roof with one open side, built against a wall, and beside it 土 (earth / soil) — a mound of earth pushed up from flat ground. Picture a boundary wall with a small roofed gateway standing open in the middle of it, put 庄 inside it, and let that scene stand for "manor" — manor. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 庸 down and you get 广 (building / lean-to) — a roof with one open side, built against a wall. Picture rows of curved roof tiles overlapping down from the ridge, put 庸 inside it, and let that scene stand for "mediocre" — mediocre / employ. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 廃 down and you get 广 (building / lean-to) — a roof with one open side, built against a wall. Picture a building topped with a flat railed terrace, put 廃 inside it, and let that scene stand for "abolish" — abolish / obsolete. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 廉 down and you get 广 (building / lean-to) — a roof with one open side, built against a wall. Picture a building topped with a flat railed terrace, put 廉 inside it, and let that scene stand for "cheap" — cheap / honest. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 廊 down and you get 广 (building / lean-to) — a roof with one open side, built against a wall. Picture rows of curved roof tiles overlapping down from the ridge, put 廊 inside it, and let that scene stand for "corridor" — corridor. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 弊 down and you get 敝 (worn / tattered) — a cloth beaten so often its threads have started to fray, and beside it 廾 (two hands) — two hands lifting from below. Picture a cloth hanging from its rail, put 弊 inside it, and let that scene stand for "evil" — evil / our (humble). The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a file folder holding a stack of papers: that is what 彙 means — vocabulary / collection. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 彑 (snout) — a pointed snout hooking down and back on itself. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 徐 down and you get 彳 (step / going) — the left half of a crossroads, where people walk, and beside it 余 (extra / surplus) — a shelter built roomier than it needs to be, with space left over. Picture a milestone post standing beside the road, put 徐 inside it, and let that scene stand for "slowly" — slowly. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 循 down and you get 彳 (step / going) — the left half of a crossroads, where people walk. Picture a road disappearing through a tunnel cut into a hillside, put 循 inside it, and let that scene stand for "circulate" — circulate / follow. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 忌 down and you get 己 (self) — a shape curled back on itself, and beside it 心 (heart / feeling) — a heart, the seat of how you feel. Picture a person sitting cross-legged on the ground, put 忌 inside it, and let that scene stand for "mourning" — mourning / abhor. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 怨 down and you get 心 (heart / feeling) — a heart, the seat of how you feel. Picture a heart-shaped lantern glowing on its string, put 怨 inside it, and let that scene stand for "grudge" — grudge. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 恨 down and you get 忄 (heart / feeling) — a heart standing upright at the left, and beside it 艮 (stubborn / firm) — a figure looking back over its shoulder, feet planted and refusing to move. Picture a heart with a heartbeat pulse line running through it, put 恨 inside it, and let that scene stand for "resentment" — resentment. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 悔 down and you get 忄 (heart / feeling) — a heart standing upright at the left, and beside it 毎 (every / each time) — a lid pressed down evenly over the same figure, again and again. Picture a heart-shaped lantern glowing on its string, put 悔 inside it, and let that scene stand for "regret" — regret. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 悠 down and you get 攸 (guided / far off) — a person nudged gently forward by a hand at their back, and beside it 心 (heart / feeling) — a heart, the seat of how you feel. Picture a heart-shaped lantern glowing on its string, put 悠 inside it, and let that scene stand for "leisurely" — leisurely / distant. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 患 down and you get 心 (heart / feeling) — a heart, the seat of how you feel. Picture a heart-shaped lantern glowing on its string, put 患 inside it, and let that scene stand for "afflicted" — afflicted / patient. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 悼 down and you get 忄 (heart / feeling) — a heart standing upright at the left. Picture a heart with a heartbeat pulse line running through it, put 悼 inside it, and let that scene stand for "mourn" — mourn. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a cut jewel catching the light: that is what 惜 means — regrettable / precious. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 忄 (heart / feeling) — a heart standing upright at the left, and beside it 昔 (olden times) — the sun sitting beneath layers of stacked, dried grass. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 愁 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 愁 inside it, and let that scene stand for "grief" — grief / lament. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 慨 down and you get 忄 (heart / feeling) — a heart standing upright at the left, and beside it 既 (already) — a bowl already emptied, the eater turning away from it. Picture a heart, standing for how something feels, put 慨 inside it, and let that scene stand for "lament" — lament / deplore. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 憤 down and you get 忄 (heart / feeling) — a heart standing upright at the left. Picture a heart, standing for how something feels, put 憤 inside it, and let that scene stand for "indignation" — indignation. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 憧 down and you get 忄 (heart / feeling) — a heart standing upright at the left. Picture a heart, standing for how something feels, put 憧 inside it, and let that scene stand for "yearn for" — yearn for. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 憬 down and you get 忄 (heart / feeling) — a heart standing upright at the left. Picture a heart with a heartbeat pulse line running through it, put 憬 inside it, and let that scene stand for "yearn" — yearn. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 戴 down and you get 𢦏 (carry / lift) — a load lifted and balanced carefully, held steady overhead. Picture an open hand with the character resting in the palm, put 戴 inside it, and let that scene stand for "receive (humble)" — receive (humble). The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

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

💡 Break 拍 down and you get 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left, and beside it 白 (white / bright) — the first pale light of the sun. Picture two cupped hands together, offering something held between them, put 拍 inside it, and let that scene stand for "beat" — beat / clap. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

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

💡 Break 拒 down and you get 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left. Picture a hand with one finger extended, pointing, put 拒 inside it, and let that scene stand for "refuse" — refuse. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 拙 down and you get 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left, and beside it 出 (exit / emerge) — one peak climbing straight up out from behind another. Picture two cupped hands together, offering something held between them, put 拙 inside it, and let that scene stand for "clumsy" — clumsy / poor (humble). The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

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

💡 Break 挫 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 挫 inside it, and let that scene stand for "crush" — crush / sprain. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 挟 down and you get 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left, and beside it 夹 (pinch between) — a figure with something clamped tight under each arm. Picture a single hand cupped sideways as if scooping something up, put 挟 inside it, and let that scene stand for "pinch" — pinch / insert. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

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

💡 Break 捗 down and you get 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left, and beside it 歩 (step / walk) — two footprints set one just ahead of the other, mid-stride. Picture a single hand cupped sideways as if scooping something up, put 捗 inside it, and let that scene stand for "progress" — progress. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 据 down and you get 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left. Picture a hand with one finger extended, pointing, put 据 inside it, and let that scene stand for "set" — set / install. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 搭 down and you get 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left, and beside it 荅 (answer / match) — a covering pressed down flush over a shoot of grass, fitted just right. Picture two cupped hands together, offering something held between them, put 搭 inside it, and let that scene stand for "board" — board / load. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 摂 down and you get 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left. Picture a hand with one finger extended, pointing, put 摂 inside it, and let that scene stand for "intake" — intake / act in place. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 摩 down and you get 手 (hand) — a hand with its fingers and wrist. Picture two cupped hands together, offering something held between them, put 摩 inside it, and let that scene stand for "rub" — rub / scrape. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 撫 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 撫 inside it, and let that scene stand for "stroke" — stroke / pat. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

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

💡 Break 擬 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 擬 inside it, and let that scene stand for "imitate" — imitate / mock. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 敢 down and you get 攵 (strike / action) — a hand raised to make something happen. Picture a hand with one finger extended, pointing, put 敢 inside it, and let that scene stand for "dare" — dare / bold. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 斉 down and you get 文 (writing / pattern) — marks written across a surface. Picture a document rolled into a scroll at both ends, put 斉 inside it, and let that scene stand for "equal" — equal / together. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a house under its roof: that is what 斎 means — purification / room. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 斉 (even / uniform) — stalks of grain all cut level, none standing taller than the rest. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 斬 down and you get 車 (vehicle / wheel) — a cart seen from above, axle through the middle, and beside it 斤 (axe / weight) — a tool that splits a block apart. Picture a cart on its wheels, put 斬 inside it, and let that scene stand for "slash" — slash / novel. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture gusts of wind sweeping across: that is what 旋 means — rotate / spiral. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 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.