Kanji

💡 Break 成 down and you get 𠂊 (claw / grasping hand) — a hooked stroke curling down like a claw reaching for something below, and beside it 戈 (halberd / conflict) — a long shaft held across the body. Picture an open hand with the character resting in the palm, put 成 inside it, and let that scene stand for "become" — become / accomplish. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 期 down and you get 其 (that (one) / basket) — a woven basket set up on two crossed legs of its own, and beside it 月 (moon / month) — the moon hanging in a clear night sky. Picture the moon in a night sky, put 期 inside it, and let that scene stand for "period" — period / term. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 和 down and you get 禾 (grain / rice plant) — a stalk of grain bending under its ripe head, and beside it 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening. Picture a ripe stalk of grain, put 和 inside it, and let that scene stand for "harmony" — harmony / Japanese style. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 機 down and you get 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down, and beside it 幾 (subtle / how many) — two loose threads tangled together near the loom's frame. Picture a tree heavy with ripe fruit among its leaves, put 機 inside it, and let that scene stand for "machine" — machine / opportunity. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a field terraced into steps up a hillside: that is what 平 means — flat / peace. 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.

💡 Break 加 down and you get 力 (power / strength) — an arm flexed to show its strength, and beside it 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening. Picture a weight lifted with strength, put 加 inside it, and let that scene stand for "add" — add. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 受 down and you get 又 (right hand) — a hand closing round something. Picture a parcel passed down from above and caught in an open, waiting hand below, put 受 inside it, and let that scene stand for "receive" — receive. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 続 down and you get 糸 (thread / silk) — a thread wound on its spool, and beside it 売 (sell) — goods held up on display, offered out to anyone passing by. Picture thread wound onto a spool, put 続 inside it, and let that scene stand for "continue" — continue. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 記 down and you get 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth, and beside it 己 (self) — a shape curled back on itself. Picture spoken words falling out of a bubble into a ruled notebook while a brush writes them down, put 記 inside it, and let that scene stand for "record" — record / write down. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 初 down and you get 衤 (clothing) — the edge of a garment at the left, and beside it 刀 (blade / divide) — a clean line splitting something in two. Picture clothing folded neatly into a stack, put 初 inside it, and let that scene stand for "first" — first / beginning. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 指 down and you get 扌 (hand) — a hand reaching in from the left, and beside it 旨 (purpose / delicious) — a spoon lifted to taste what's been set out in the sun. Picture a finger pointing at a spoon lifted over a bowl set out in the sun, put 指 inside it, and let that scene stand for "finger" — finger / point. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 権 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 権 inside it, and let that scene stand for "rights" — rights / authority. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a tree heavy with ripe fruit among its leaves: that is what 支 means — support / branch. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 十 (ten / cross) — two lines crossing at the centre, and beside it 又 (right hand) — a hand closing round something. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Picture a small child standing beside a ball: that is what 産 means — produce / give birth. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 生 (live / grow) — a shoot breaking the surface. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 点 down and you get 占 (occupy / foretell) — a diviner's crack placed right over a spot, claiming it, and beside it 灬 (fire underneath) — four small flames licking up from below. Picture an open mouth, put 点 inside it, and let that scene stand for "point" — point. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 報 down and you get 幸 (fortune / luck) — a pole notched evenly from top to bottom, luck measured out in equal shares. Picture an open letter with a good-luck token lifting out of it, held out on a hand to be passed on, put 報 inside it, and let that scene stand for "report" — report / reward. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 済 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge, and beside it 斉 (even / uniform) — stalks of grain all cut level, none standing taller than the rest. Picture a flooded paddy field reflecting stalks of grain all trimmed to one even height, put 済 inside it, and let that scene stand for "settle" — settle / economy. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 活 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge, and beside it 舌 (tongue) — a tongue moving inside an open mouth. Picture a spring bubbling up lively while an open mouth leans in to drink from it, put 活 inside it, and let that scene stand for "activity" — activity / life. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a field terraced into steps up a hillside: that is what 原 means — origin / field. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 厂 (cliff / shelter) — an overhanging cliff you can shelter under. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 共 down and you get 八 (eight / split) — two strokes opening away from each other. Picture tally marks counted off in groups of five, put 共 inside it, and let that scene stand for "together" — together. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 得 down and you get 彳 (step / going) — the left half of a crossroads, where people walk. Picture footprints along a path with a hand reaching down to lift a coin lying on it, put 得 inside it, and let that scene stand for "gain" — gain / obtain. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a cleaver blade cutting straight down through a block: that is what 解 means — solve / untie. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 角 (horn / corner) — a ridged horn, pointed and sharp at the corner where two lines meet. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 交 down and you get 亠 (lid / top) — a lid resting on the top, and beside it 父 (father) — a hand raised to get the work done. Picture rows of curved roof tiles overlapping down from the ridge, put 交 inside it, and let that scene stand for "exchange" — exchange / cross. 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 資 means — resources / capital. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 次 (next / in turn) — a mouth open in a yawn, waiting its turn beside the cold, and beside it 貝 (shell / money) — a shell, the money people once traded with. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 予 down and you get マ (hooked stroke) — a single hook curling forward, reaching ahead of itself, and beside it 了 (complete / finish) — a hooked stroke that stops short, cut off the moment it is done. Picture a calendar with a date circled ahead of today, put 予 inside it, and let that scene stand for "beforehand" — beforehand. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 向 down and you get 丿 (sweeping stroke) — a stroke sweeping down to the left, and beside it 冂 (enclosure) — an open-bottomed frame around the middle. Picture a wall with one square window cut in it and light streaming straight out the way it faces, put 向 inside it, and let that scene stand for "face toward" — face toward / direction. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 際 down and you get ⻖ (hill / mound) — a terraced hill climbing at the left, and beside it 祭 (festival / offering) — a hand setting something out on a raised stand for everyone to see. Picture a terraced hillside, put 際 inside it, and let that scene stand for "occasion" — occasion / edge. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 勝 down and you get 月 (moon / month) — the moon hanging in a clear night sky, and beside it 劵 (ticket / certificate) — a torn ticket stub, one half kept as proof. Picture the moon in a night sky, put 勝 inside it, and let that scene stand for "win" — win. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 面 is the picture: a face framed by its own outline, seen straight on. Set it against a flat mask with two eye holes, held up facing straight ahead and the shape carries its meaning, "face / surface", with it.

💡 Picture a banner unfurled to announce something: that is what 告 means — announce / tell. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 牛 (cow / ox) — an ox with horns above its head, 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 反 down and you get 厂 (cliff / shelter) — an overhanging cliff you can shelter under, and beside it 又 (right hand) — a hand closing round something. Picture an overhanging cliff with shelter beneath it, put 反 inside it, and let that scene stand for "anti-" — anti- / opposite. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 判 down and you get 半 (half) — a shape split cleanly down the middle, each half matching the other, and beside it 刂 (divide / cut) — a straight cut down the right-hand side. Picture a block split cleanly into two halves, put 判 inside it, and let that scene stand for "judgment" — judgment. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 認 down and you get 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth, and beside it 忍 (endure / patience) — a heart holding perfectly still under something sharp pressing close. Picture a bell ringing out to call for attention, put 認 inside it, and let that scene stand for "recognize" — recognize / approve. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 参 down and you get 厶 (private / self) — arms drawn in, keeping something to oneself. Picture two people standing side by side, put 参 inside it, and let that scene stand for "participate" — participate / visit. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 利 down and you get 禾 (grain / rice plant) — a stalk of grain bending under its ripe head, and beside it 刂 (divide / cut) — a straight cut down the right-hand side. Picture a ripe stalk of grain, put 利 inside it, and let that scene stand for "profit" — profit / advantage. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture two people standing side by side: that is what 組 means — assemble / group. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 糸 (thread / silk) — a thread wound on its spool, and beside it 且 (moreover / also) — a stack of shelves piled one above another. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 信 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth. Picture a standing figure resting a hand on an open scroll of words, put 信 inside it, and let that scene stand for "trust" — trust / believe. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 在 down and you get 土 (earth / soil) — a mound of earth pushed up from flat ground. Picture a mound of earth raised from flat ground, put 在 inside it, and let that scene stand for "exist" — exist / located in. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 件 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 牛 (cow / ox) — an ox with horns above its head. Picture a person mid-stride walking forward, put 件 inside it, and let that scene stand for "matter" — matter / case. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 側 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 則 (rule / standard) — a shell cut to one precise standard, a rule to measure every other by. Picture a person carrying a box held in both arms, put 側 inside it, and let that scene stand for "side" — side. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 任 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 壬 (bear a burden) — a stand with one extra weight balanced carefully across the top. Picture a standing figure carrying a beam across the shoulders with one weight balanced on top, put 任 inside it, and let that scene stand for "responsibility" — responsibility / entrust. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 引 down and you get 弓 (bow / arc) — a bow bent and ready to spring back, and beside it 丨 (vertical line) — a single upright stroke through the middle. Picture a bow bent as its string is drawn back into one straight taut line, put 引 inside it, and let that scene stand for "pull" — pull / discount. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 求 down and you get 氺 (water) — water gathering at the foot of the character, and beside it 丶 (dot) — a single dot marking the spot. Picture water falling from a rock ledge into the pool below it, put 求 inside it, and let that scene stand for "seek" — seek / request. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 次 down and you get 冫 (ice) — two frozen droplets clinging to the side, and beside it 欠 (lack / open mouth) — a person leaning forward with their mouth open. Picture a block of ice with frost spreading from it, put 次 inside it, and let that scene stand for "next" — next. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 論 down and you get 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth, and beside it 侖 (arrange / logic) — a stack of tablets gathered together and bound in order. Picture a megaphone broadcasting sound waves outward, put 論 inside it, and let that scene stand for "argument" — argument / theory. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a person mid-stride walking forward: that is what 官 means — government official. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 宀 (roof) — a roof stretched over the whole house. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 増 down and you get 土 (earth / soil) — a mound of earth pushed up from flat ground, and beside it 曽 (once / long ago) — several storeys stacked one above another over a single window. Picture a mound of earth raised from flat ground, put 増 inside it, and let that scene stand for "increase" — increase. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 減 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge, and beside it 咸 (all / entirely) — a mouth boxed in on every side, nothing left outside it. Picture a tank sealed shut on every side, its water line marked lower than before, put 減 inside it, and let that scene stand for "decrease" — decrease. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 係 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 系 (system / lineage) — a hand holding the top of a thread that hangs down in loops. Picture a standing figure holding one end of a thread that loops away and ties back on itself, put 係 inside it, and let that scene stand for "connection" — connection / person in charge. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 感 down and you get 咸 (all / entirely) — a mouth boxed in on every side, nothing left outside it, and beside it 心 (heart / feeling) — a heart, the seat of how you feel. Picture a heart with waves spreading out of it to every edge, reaching all of you at once, put 感 inside it, and let that scene stand for "feeling" — feeling. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.