Kanji

💡 Picture a person carrying a box held in both arms: that is what 族 means — family / tribe. 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.

💡 Picture a field terraced into steps up a hillside: that is what 村 means — village. 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 寸 (measure / inch) — a hand measuring a short distance. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 体 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene. Picture the plain outline of a person standing, put 体 inside it, and let that scene stand for "body" — body. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 太 down and you get 大 (big) — a person stretching both arms out as wide as they go, and beside it 丶 (dot) — a single dot marking the spot. Picture a person with one arm raised, waving, put 太 inside it, and let that scene stand for "thick" — thick / fat. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 待 down and you get 彳 (step / going) — the left half of a crossroads, where people walk, and beside it 寺 (temple / hold) — a hall standing on measured ground. Picture a person standing at a roadside shrine, waiting, put 待 inside it, and let that scene stand for "wait" — wait. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 貸 down and you get 代 (generation / in place of) — a person standing beside a marker post driven into the ground, and beside it 貝 (shell / money) — a shell, the money people once traded with. Picture a coin, the money things are traded for, put 貸 inside it, and let that scene stand for "lend" — lend. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a figure standing on a raised platform: that is what 台 means — stand / counter for machines. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 厶 (private / self) — arms drawn in, keeping something to oneself, and beside it 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 代 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 弋 (stake / marker) — a stake driven into the ground with a small flag caught at an angle. Picture the plain outline of a person standing, put 代 inside it, and let that scene stand for "substitute" — substitute / generation. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 題 down and you get 是 (this / right here) — a footprint planted directly beneath the sun, marking exactly this spot, and beside it 頁 (head / page) — a head bent over a page. Picture stepping stones leading forward one pace at a time, put 題 inside it, and let that scene stand for "topic" — topic / title. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 短 down and you get 矢 (arrow / straight) — an arrow flying straight to its mark, and beside it 豆 (bean / vessel) — a footed vessel holding the food. Picture a bow drawn and aimed straight ahead, put 短 inside it, and let that scene stand for "short" — short. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 知 down and you get 矢 (arrow / straight) — an arrow flying straight to its mark, and beside it 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening. Picture a bow drawn and aimed straight ahead, put 知 inside it, and let that scene stand for "know" — know. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a rice field divided into four plots by its paths: that is what 地 means — ground / earth. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 土 (earth / soil) — a mound of earth pushed up from flat ground. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

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

💡 Break 茶 down and you get 艹 (grass / plant) — two shoots pushing up through the soil. Picture young plants pushing up out of the soil beside a garden label, put 茶 inside it, and let that scene stand for "tea" — tea. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a garment with its collar and sleeves: that is what 着 means — wear / arrive. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 目 (eye) — an eye stood on its end, pupil lines inside. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 昼 down and you get 尺 (measure / length) — a measure held against the thing being sized, and beside it 旦 (dawn) — the sun sitting right on the horizon line, freshly risen. Picture the sun shining in a clear sky, put 昼 inside it, and let that scene stand for "daytime" — daytime / noon. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 注 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge, and beside it 主 (master / main) — a lamp on its stand, the room built round it. Picture a drop of water above rippling waves, put 注 inside it, and let that scene stand for "pour" — pour /注意. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 町 down and you get 田 (rice field) — a field cut into four plots by its paths, and beside it 丁 (nail / town block) — a nail seen from the side, its head flat above a straight shaft. Picture a rice field divided into four plots by its paths, put 町 inside it, and let that scene stand for "town" — town. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 A bird with its eye, wing, and tail feathers. 鳥 means bird.

💡 Break 朝 down and you get 月 (moon / month) — the moon hanging in a clear night sky. Picture the moon in a night sky, put 朝 inside it, and let that scene stand for "morning" — morning. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 通 down and you get 甬 (tube / passage) — a hollow tube standing upright, open straight through from end to end, and beside it ⻌ (road / movement) — a road running along the bottom of the character. Picture a milestone post standing beside the road, put 通 inside it, and let that scene stand for "pass through" — pass through / commute. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 弟 down and you get 八 (eight / split) — two strokes opening away from each other. Picture an open ledger book ruled into counted columns, put 弟 inside it, and let that scene stand for "younger brother" — younger brother. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 店 down and you get 广 (building / lean-to) — a roof with one open side, built against a wall, and beside it 占 (occupy / foretell) — a diviner's crack placed right over a spot, claiming it. Picture a building of two storeys, a small roof sitting above a wider one, put 店 inside it, and let that scene stand for "shop" — shop. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 転 down and you get 車 (vehicle / wheel) — a cart seen from above, axle through the middle, and beside it 云 (cloud / say) — wisps of cloud curling and layering in the sky. Picture a cart on its wheels, put 転 inside it, and let that scene stand for "turn" — turn / fall. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 都 down and you get 者 (person doing it) — someone standing over their work, and beside it ⻏ (village / town) — a walled town climbing the slope at the right edge of the character. Picture a terraced hillside, put 都 inside it, and let that scene stand for "metropolis" — metropolis. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a ruler marking off a measured length: that is what 度 means — degree / times. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 广 (building / lean-to) — a roof with one open side, built against a wall. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 答 down and you get 竹 (bamboo) — two bamboo stalks with their leaves, and beside it 合 (fit / combine) — a lid come down flush on its pot. Picture two bamboo stalks with their segments, put 答 inside it, and let that scene stand for "answer" — answer. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 冬 down and you get 夂 (walk slowly) — a foot trailing behind the one in front, and beside it 冫 (ice) — two frozen droplets clinging to the side. Picture stepping stones leading forward one pace at a time, put 冬 inside it, and let that scene stand for "winter" — winter. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a pedestrian crossing marked with painted stripes: that is what 動 means — move. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 重 (heavy / repeat) — a load pressing down on the ground, and beside it 力 (power / strength) — an arm flexed to show its strength. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 堂 down and you get 尚 (still / esteemed) — smoke curling up through a little vent in the roof, and beside it 土 (earth / soil) — a mound of earth pushed up from flat ground. Picture a house under its roof, put 堂 inside it, and let that scene stand for "hall" — hall. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a written page: that is what 働 means — work. 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 特 down and you get 牛 (cow / ox) — an ox with horns above its head, and beside it 寺 (temple / hold) — a hall standing on measured ground. Picture a four-legged animal standing in profile, put 特 inside it, and let that scene stand for "special" — special. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a steaming bowl of food, and set 肉 inside that picture. The scene is the hook: bring it back and 肉 comes with it, meaning "meat".

💡 Picture a coin, the money things are traded for: that is what 売 means — sell. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 士 (warrior / scholar) — a figure standing firm, shoulders held level above straight legs. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Picture a crossroads with a person walking through it and a signboard at the corner, and set 発 inside that picture. The scene is the hook: bring it back and 発 comes with it, meaning "emit / depart".

💡 Picture a ripe stalk of grain: that is what 飯 means — cooked rice / meal. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 飠 (food / eat) — a bowl of food set at the left, and beside it 反 (opposite / turn over) — a hand reaching under an overhang to flip something over. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 病 down and you get 疒 (illness) — someone lying on a bed, resting. Picture a person resting under a blanket in bed, put 病 inside it, and let that scene stand for "illness" — illness. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

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

💡 Break 不 down and you get 一 (one / a line) — a single line, the very first mark, and beside it 丿 (sweeping stroke) — a stroke sweeping down to the left. Picture tally marks counted off in groups of five, put 不 inside it, and let that scene stand for "not" — not / un-. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture gusts of wind sweeping across: that is what 風 means — wind / style. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 虫 (insect) — a small insect with its round back. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Picture clothing folded neatly into a stack: that is what 服 means — clothes. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 月 (moon / month) — the moon hanging in a clear night sky. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 物 down and you get 牛 (cow / ox) — an ox with horns above its head. Picture a four-legged animal standing in profile, put 物 inside it, and let that scene stand for "thing" — thing. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 文 down and you get 亠 (lid / top) — a lid resting on the top, and beside it 乂 (cut / trim) — two strokes crossing in an X, like shears snapped shut. Picture a building of two storeys, a small roof sitting above a wider one, put 文 inside it, and let that scene stand for "sentence" — sentence / culture. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 別 down and you get 刂 (divide / cut) — a straight cut down the right-hand side. Picture a cleaver blade cutting straight down through a block, put 別 inside it, and let that scene stand for "separate" — separate / different. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 勉 down and you get 力 (power / strength) — an arm flexed to show its strength. Picture a figure straining to lift a weight overhead, put 勉 inside it, and let that scene stand for "effort" — effort. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a pedestrian crossing marked with painted stripes: that is what 方 means — direction / person. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 亠 (lid / top) — a lid resting on the top. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 法 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge, and beside it 去 (leave / past) — a lid lifted off and carried away. Picture a jar's lid lifted off and floating away on the current, put 法 inside it, and let that scene stand for "law" — law / method. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 妹 down and you get 女 (woman) — a figure kneeling with arms folded, and beside it 未 (not yet) — a tree whose top branch has not filled out. Picture a person carrying a box held in both arms, put 妹 inside it, and let that scene stand for "younger sister" — younger sister. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 味 down and you get 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening, and beside it 未 (not yet) — a tree whose top branch has not filled out. Picture an open mouth, put 味 inside it, and let that scene stand for "taste" — taste. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 民 down and you get 氏 (clan / family name) — a curved line hooking back on itself, one family bound into a single shape. Picture a ring of faceless people all holding one rope that loops back and hooks on itself, put 民 inside it, and let that scene stand for "people" — people / nation. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.