Kanji

💡 Three peaks rising up. 山 is a mountain — you can see the summits.

💡 Three lines flowing downward like channels of water. 川 means river.

💡 A field divided into four plots by paths. 田 means rice field.

💡 A person (大) with a line above their head — the heavens. 天 means heaven or sky.

💡 Vapor/steam rising and swirling. 気 means spirit, energy, air, or mood.

💡 Droplets falling from a cloud. 雨 means rain.

💡 A horse (馬) station where travelers once changed mounts. 駅 means (train) station.

💡 A head (首) moving along the road (辶). 道 means road, way, or path.

💡 A tree (木) crossing paths (交) where students gather. 校 means school.

💡 A foot stepping out ahead of others. 先 means ahead, previous, or "teacher" (先生).

💡 A person carrying the harvest, marking the passing of a year. 年 means year.

💡 Break 分 down and you get 八 (eight / split) — two strokes opening away from each other, and beside it 刀 (blade / divide) — a clean line splitting something in two. Picture a block split cleanly into two halves, put 分 inside it, and let that scene stand for "minute" — minute / part / understand. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 半 down and you get 丶 (dot) — a single dot marking the spot, and beside it 二 (two) — two lines laid one above the other. Picture an abacus with beads slid along its rods, put 半 inside it, and let that scene stand for "half" — half. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 今 down and you get 人 (person) — a person standing on two legs. Picture a person sitting cross-legged on the ground, put 今 inside it, and let that scene stand for "now" — now. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 何 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene. Picture a person carrying a box held in both arms, put 何 inside it, and let that scene stand for "what" — what. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Grain ripening, drawing people to come for the harvest. 来 means to come.

💡 A person turning back along the path home. 帰 means to return home.

💡 An ear (耳) at the gate (門), listening. 聞 means to hear or ask.

💡 Words (言) being sold/spread (売) — reading aloud. 読 means to read.

💡 A hand with a brush writing lines on paper. 書 means to write.

💡 Words (言) from a tongue (舌) — speaking. 話 means to talk or a story.

💡 A net (罒) over a shell (貝, money) — catching goods with cash. 買 means to buy.

💡 Food/drink (食) beside a person opening their mouth (欠). 飲 means to drink.

💡 Ten (十) mouths (口) passing a story down through generations. 古 means old.

💡 A tall tower standing above the city. 高 means tall or expensive.

💡 A woman (女) safe and calm under a roof. 安 means cheap, peaceful, or safe.

💡 長 is the picture: hair grown long enough to trail. Set it against two people standing side by side and the shape carries its meaning, "long / chief", with it.

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

💡 Two hands reaching toward each other. 友 means friend.

💡 A border (囗) enclosing treasure (玉) — a nation. 国 means country.

💡 Words (言) repeated by five (五) mouths (口) — language. 語 means language or word.

💡 A flower (艹) at its finest — excellence, and "England/English." 英 means English or excellent.

💡 A hand raising a tool to provide — the father. 父 means father.

💡 A figure with two dots for a mother nursing. 母 means mother.

💡 Picture an abacus with beads slid along its rods: that is what 毎 means — every. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 毋 (do not / forbid) — a figure with a bar struck straight across it, blocking the way. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 週 down and you get 周 (all around / circuit) — a plot of land walled in on every side, the boundary running the whole way round, and beside it ⻌ (road / movement) — a road running along the bottom of the character. Picture a pedestrian crossing marked with painted stripes, put 週 inside it, and let that scene stand for "week" — week. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture the sun shining in a clear sky: that is what 午 means — noon. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 干 (dry / shield) — a cloth hung on a pole to dry. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Picture an open notebook with an idea lighting up above it, and set 前 inside that picture. The scene is the hook: bring it back and 前 comes with it, meaning "before / front".

💡 Break 後 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 後 inside it, and let that scene stand for "after" — after / behind. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 In the evening (夕) you call out a mouth (口) — a name. 名 means name.

💡 Picture a road arching over a bridge across water: that is what 東 means — east. 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 日 (sun / day) — the sun framed by four strokes, marking one day. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Picture a road arching over a bridge across water, and set 西 inside that picture. The scene is the hook: bring it back and 西 comes with it, meaning "west".

💡 Picture a road splitting into two forking paths: that is what 南 means — south. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 十 (ten / cross) — two lines crossing at the centre. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Picture a pedestrian crossing marked with painted stripes: that is what 北 means — north. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 匕 (spoon / change) — a spoon turned over to tip out what it holds. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 An arrow pointing into an opening. 入 means to enter.

💡 Legs stepping out of an enclosure, again and again. 出 means to exit or go out.

💡 A person standing firmly on the ground. 立 means to stand.

💡 A person (亻) resting against a tree (木). 休 means to rest.

💡 The sun (日) just above the horizon (十) — early morning. 早 means early or fast.

💡 A fish with head, body, and tail fins. 魚 means fish.