Kanji

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

💡 Break 晶 down and you get 日 (sun / day) — the sun framed by four strokes, marking one day. Picture the sun half hidden behind a passing cloud, put 晶 inside it, and let that scene stand for "crystal" — crystal. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 暁 down and you get 日 (sun / day) — the sun framed by four strokes, marking one day. Picture the sun sitting low behind a mountain ridge, put 暁 inside it, and let that scene stand for "dawn" — dawn. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 曙 down and you get 日 (sun / day) — the sun framed by four strokes, marking one day. Picture the sun sitting low behind a mountain ridge, put 曙 inside it, and let that scene stand for "daybreak" — daybreak. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 朽 down and you get 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down, and beside it 丂 (breath held back) — a hooked line broken off short, like a breath caught halfway out. Picture a small grove of three trees clustered together, put 朽 inside it, and let that scene stand for "decay" — decay. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 杜 down and you get 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down, and beside it 土 (earth / soil) — a mound of earth pushed up from flat ground. Picture a tree with a broad green crown, put 杜 inside it, and let that scene stand for "woods" — woods / shrine grove. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 枢 down and you get 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down, and beside it 区 (district / divide) — a box with a cross cut through the middle, splitting it into sections. Picture a felled tree trunk lying beside its stump, put 枢 inside it, and let that scene stand for "pivot" — pivot / center. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 核 down and you get 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down, and beside it 亥 (boar (zodiac)) — a boar's bent back and tusks, seen from the side. Picture a tree with a broad green crown, put 核 inside it, and let that scene stand for "nucleus" — nucleus / core. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 栽 down and you get 土 (earth / soil) — a mound of earth pushed up from flat ground, and beside it 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down. Picture a mound of earth raised from flat ground, put 栽 inside it, and let that scene stand for "planting" — planting. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 桁 down and you get 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down, and beside it 行 (go / conduct) — a crossroads seen from above, paths leading off in both directions. Picture a small grove of three trees clustered together, put 桁 inside it, and let that scene stand for "digit" — digit / beam. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 梗 down and you get 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down, and beside it 更 (change / renew) — a hand reaching up to reset the sun in its frame, starting the count again. Picture a tree heavy with ripe fruit among its leaves, put 梗 inside it, and let that scene stand for "blockage" — blockage / outline. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 棄 down and you get 㐬 (flowing / drifting) — a strand caught mid-stream, swept along and turned by the current, and beside it 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down. Picture a drop of water above rippling waves, put 棄 inside it, and let that scene stand for "abandon" — abandon / discard. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a deep overhanging eave carried on two posts with its rafter ends showing: that is what 棟 means — building / ridge. 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 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.

💡 Picture a boundary wall with a small roofed gateway standing open in the middle of it: that is what 楼 means — tower. 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 娄 (stacked / numerous) — a figure balancing a tall stack piled up overhead. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 槽 down and you get 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down. Picture a small grove of three trees clustered together, put 槽 inside it, and let that scene stand for "tank" — tank / vat. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a rice field divided into four plots by its paths: that is what 欄 means — column / field. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 欧 down and you get 区 (district / divide) — a box with a cross cut through the middle, splitting it into sections, and beside it 欠 (lack / open mouth) — a person leaning forward with their mouth open. Picture an open mouth, put 欧 inside it, and let that scene stand for "Europe" — Europe. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a heart-shaped lantern glowing on its string: that is what 歓 means — joy / welcome. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 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 殊 down and you get 歹 (death / decay) — a scatter of broken, jagged bone fragments, and beside it 朱 (vermilion / red) — a single red mark cut into the heartwood of a tree. Picture a bed made up for someone to rest in, put 殊 inside it, and let that scene stand for "especially" — especially / different. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 殻 down and you get 殳 (action / tool) — a hand swinging a tool. Picture a single hand cupped sideways as if scooping something up, put 殻 inside it, and let that scene stand for "shell" — shell / husk. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 氾 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge, and beside it 卩 (seal / kneel) — a seal pressed down to make it official. Picture a drop of water above rippling waves, put 氾 inside it, and let that scene stand for "overflow" — overflow. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 汎 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge, and beside it 凡 (ordinary / everyday) — a plain sail stretched flat across its frame, nothing special about it. Picture rain falling from a cloud onto a rippling pond, put 汎 inside it, and let that scene stand for "general" — general / wide. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 浄 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge, and beside it 争 (dispute / compete) — two hands pulling hard on the same thing from opposite ends. Picture a river bending past a stone in its current, put 浄 inside it, and let that scene stand for "pure" — pure / cleanse. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

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

💡 Break 浸 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge. Picture water falling from a rock ledge into the pool below it, put 浸 inside it, and let that scene stand for "soak" — soak / permeate. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 湧 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge. Picture a well with its water surface catching the light, put 湧 inside it, and let that scene stand for "well up" — well up / spring. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 溺 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 溺 inside it, and let that scene stand for "drown" — drown / indulge. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 滅 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 滅 inside it, and let that scene stand for "destroy" — destroy / perish. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

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

💡 Break 濁 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge. Picture water falling from a rock ledge into the pool below it, put 濁 inside it, and let that scene stand for "muddy" — muddy / impure. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 濫 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 濫 inside it, and let that scene stand for "excessive" — excessive / overflow. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 瀬 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 瀬 inside it, and let that scene stand for "shallows" — shallows / rapids. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a ripe stalk of grain: that is what 炊 means — cook (rice). Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 火 (fire) — a fire with sparks flying off to both sides, 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 炎 down and you get 火 (fire) — a fire with sparks flying off to both sides. Picture a flame burning, put 炎 inside it, and let that scene stand for "flame" — flame / inflammation. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 煩 down and you get 火 (fire) — a fire with sparks flying off to both sides, and beside it 頁 (head / page) — a head bent over a page. Picture a flame burning, put 煩 inside it, and let that scene stand for "trouble" — trouble / annoy. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

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

💡 Break 迅 down and you get ⻌ (road / movement) — a road running along the bottom of the character. Picture a pedestrian crossing marked with painted stripes, put 迅 inside it, and let that scene stand for "rapid" — rapid. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture an open mouth: that is what 辣 means — bitter / harsh. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 辛 (bitter / spicy) — a blade point balanced upright, sharp enough to sting the tongue, and beside it 束 (bundle / bind) — branches tied at the middle. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 迂 down and you get 辶 (road / movement) — a road sweeping under the character. Picture a road disappearing through a tunnel cut into a hillside, put 迂 inside it, and let that scene stand for "detour" — detour / roundabout. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.