Kanji

💡 A hole (穴) of nothing under the sky — emptiness. 空 means sky or empty.

💡 Break 雪 down and you get 雨 (rain) — droplets falling from under a cloud, and beside it ⺕ (hand) — a hand gripping from above. Picture rain falling from a cloud, put 雪 inside it, and let that scene stand for "snow" — snow. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Think of a person standing and working for someone. The left side is a person (亻), helping someone complete work — so 仕 means to serve, do, or perform a task.

💡 Imagine a hand holding a brush, recording every matter and affair. 事 means a thing, matter, or job — the events you write down.

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

💡 Break 以 down and you get 人 (person) — a person standing on two legs. Picture a person carrying a box held in both arms, put 以 inside it, and let that scene stand for "by means of" — by means of / since. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 意 down and you get 音 (sound) — a single note held under a line, sound made visible, and beside it 心 (heart / feeling) — a heart, the seat of how you feel. Picture a sound rising out of an open chest, put 意 inside it, and let that scene stand for "mind" — mind / meaning. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 A medical case with small vials and a fine needle, the doctor's tools laid out ready. 医 means medicine or doctor.

💡 Break 員 down and you get 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening, and beside it 貝 (shell / money) — a shell, the money people once traded with. Picture a money shell with a coin and small figures gathered around it, put 員 inside it, and let that scene stand for "member" — member. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

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

💡 Picture a cart on its wheels: that is what 運 means — carry / luck. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, ⻌ (road / movement) — a road running along the bottom of the character. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 映 down and you get 日 (sun / day) — the sun framed by four strokes, marking one day, and beside it 央 (centre / middle) — a figure with a bar balanced straight across its shoulders, centred evenly on both sides. Picture a sun mirrored on the surface of still water, put 映 inside it, and let that scene stand for "reflect" — reflect / project. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 園 down and you get 囗 (enclosure / border) — a wall drawn right round the outside. Picture a walled orchard with a tree and a pond inside it, put 園 inside it, and let that scene stand for "garden" — garden. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 遠 down and you get ⻌ (road / movement) — a road running along the bottom of the character. Picture a crossroads with a person walking through it and a signboard at the corner, put 遠 inside it, and let that scene stand for "far" — far. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 屋 down and you get 尸 (body / house) — the low roof of a small dwelling, and beside it 至 (arrive / reach) — an arrow come to rest on the ground. Picture a shop with a sloping roof and a lit counter inside, put 屋 inside it, and let that scene stand for "roof" — roof / shop. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture an ear turned towards an incoming sound: that is what 音 means — sound. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 立 (stand) — a person standing firmly on the ground, 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.

💡 Break 歌 down and you get 欠 (lack / open mouth) — a person leaning forward with their mouth open. Picture an open mouth releasing musical waves as it sings, put 歌 inside it, and let that scene stand for "song" — song / sing. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 家 down and you get 宀 (roof) — a roof stretched over the whole house. Picture a house under its roof, put 家 inside it, and let that scene stand for "house" — house / family. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 画 down and you get 一 (one / a line) — a single line, the very first mark, and beside it 由 (reason / from) — a seed case with a single shoot poking out through the top. Picture a brush laying down a clean stroke on paper, put 画 inside it, and let that scene stand for "picture" — picture / stroke. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 回 down and you get 囗 (enclosure / border) — a wall drawn right round the outside, and beside it 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening. Picture a wall drawn right around what it holds, put 回 inside it, and let that scene stand for "times" — times / turn. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a fish swimming: that is what 海 means — sea. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge, and beside it 毎 (every / each time) — a lid pressed down evenly over the same figure, again and again. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 界 down and you get 田 (rice field) — a field cut into four plots by its paths. Picture a rice field with a single figure standing at its edge, put 界 inside it, and let that scene stand for "world" — world / boundary. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Two hands lifting the bar off a gate (門) to open it. 開 means to open.

💡 A wooden zither with strings stretched across its bridge — the strings sing. 楽 means music or fun.

💡 Picture a boundary wall with a small roofed gateway standing open in the middle of it: that is what 館 means — building / hall. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 飠 (food / eat) — a bowl of food set at the left. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

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

💡 Break 起 down and you get 走 (run) — someone running along the road, and beside it 己 (self) — a shape curled back on itself. Picture legs springing up from a bed at the moment of waking, put 起 inside it, and let that scene stand for "wake up" — wake up / occur. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 究 down and you get 穴 (hole / cave) — a hollow opening in the ground. Picture a wall drawn right around what it holds, put 究 inside it, and let that scene stand for "research" — research. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 急 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 急 inside it, and let that scene stand for "hurry" — hurry / sudden. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 牛 is the picture: an ox with horns above its head. Set it against a four-legged animal standing in profile and the shape carries its meaning, "cow", with it.

💡 Picture a gateway standing open: that is what 去 means — leave / past. 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 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 京 down and you get 亠 (lid / top) — a lid resting on the top. Picture a boundary wall with a small roofed gateway standing open in the middle of it, put 京 inside it, and let that scene stand for "capital" — capital. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a figure straining to lift a weight overhead: that is what 強 means — strong. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 弓 (bow / arc) — a bow bent and ready to spring back. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 教 down and you get 攵 (strike / action) — a hand raised to make something happen. Picture an elder tap-tapping a lesson into a child, put 教 inside it, and let that scene stand for "teach" — teach. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a file folder holding a stack of papers, and set 業 inside that picture. The scene is the hook: bring it back and 業 comes with it, meaning "business / industry".

💡 Break 近 down and you get 斤 (axe / weight) — a tool that splits a block apart, and beside it ⻌ (road / movement) — a road running along the bottom of the character. Picture a footstep about to land right next to a felled log, put 近 inside it, and let that scene stand for "near" — near. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 銀 down and you get 金 (metal / gold) — metal kept under a roof — something precious, and beside it 艮 (stubborn / firm) — a figure looking back over its shoulder, feet planted and refusing to move. Picture a bar of metal, put 銀 inside it, and let that scene stand for "silver" — silver. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a rice field divided into four plots by its paths: that is what 区 means — ward / district. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 匸 (hidden / boxed away) — a box left open on one side, tucked low to hide what is inside, and beside it 乂 (cut / trim) — two strokes crossing in an X, like shears snapped shut. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Picture a ruler marking off a measured length: that is what 計 means — measure / plan. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth, and beside it 十 (ten / cross) — two lines crossing at the centre. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 兄 down and you get 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening, and beside it 儿 (legs / person) — two legs walking out from underneath. Picture an open mouth, put 兄 inside it, and let that scene stand for "older brother" — older brother. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 軽 down and you get 車 (vehicle / wheel) — a cart seen from above, axle through the middle, and beside it 圣 (hand at work) — a hand reaching down to press into the earth below it. Picture a cart tipped up by a feather resting on its axle, put 軽 inside it, and let that scene stand for "light (weight)" — light (weight). The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 A dog (大 with a leash dot) wagging. 犬 means dog.

💡 Break 研 down and you get 石 (stone) — a rock sitting at the foot of a cliff. Picture a large stone, put 研 inside it, and let that scene stand for "sharpen" — sharpen / research. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 験 down and you get 馬 (horse) — a horse with its mane and four legs, and beside it 㑒 (gathered together) — several small figures huddled close together under one line. Picture a horse being put through its paces at a trial gate, put 験 inside it, and let that scene stand for "test" — test / verify. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 元 down and you get 二 (two) — two lines laid one above the other, and beside it 儿 (legs / person) — two legs walking out from underneath. Picture an open ledger book ruled into counted columns, put 元 inside it, and let that scene stand for "origin" — origin. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a banner unfurled to announce something: that is what 言 means — say / word. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 工 is the picture: a carpenter's tool held level. Set it against a level ruler balanced on a beam to check its true and the shape carries its meaning, "craft / construction", with it.

💡 A wide shelter with its arms stretched out to either side, opening up the space inside. 広 means wide.

💡 Picture an old man stroking his chin, deep in thought — 考 takes shape inside that scene and means "think".

💡 Break 合 down and you get 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening. Picture two mouths fitted together, combining into one, put 合 inside it, and let that scene stand for "fit" — fit / combine. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.