Kanji

💡 Break 達 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 達 inside it, and let that scene stand for "attain" — attain / plural marker. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 便 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 更 (change / renew) — a hand reaching up to reset the sun in its frame, starting the count again. Picture a person sitting cross-legged on the ground, put 便 inside it, and let that scene stand for "convenience" — convenience / mail. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 王 is the picture: a jewel on its stand. Set it against a cut jewel catching the light and the shape carries its meaning, "king", with it.

💡 Break 査 down and you get 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down, and beside it 且 (moreover / also) — a stack of shelves piled one above another. Picture a tree heavy with ripe fruit among its leaves, put 査 inside it, and let that scene stand for "inspect" — inspect. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 協 down and you get 十 (ten / cross) — two lines crossing at the centre. Picture counting beads above a counting board, put 協 inside it, and let that scene stand for "cooperate" — cooperate. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 老 down and you get 耂 (old / elder) — a bent back and a walking stick, an elder leaning as they walk, and beside it 匕 (spoon / change) — a spoon turned over to tip out what it holds. Picture a stooped elder figure leaning their weight on a walking stick, put 老 inside it, and let that scene stand for "old age" — old age. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a small child standing beside a ball: that is what 若 means — young. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 艹 (grass / plant) — two shoots pushing up through the soil, and beside it 右 (right (side)) — a hand held out to the right, an open mouth just behind it. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 居 down and you get 尸 (body / house) — the low roof of a small dwelling, and beside it 古 (old / ancient) — ten mouths repeating the same old story, one after another. Picture a building of two storeys, a small roof sitting above a wider one, put 居 inside it, and let that scene stand for "reside" — reside. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 突 down and you get 穴 (hole / cave) — a hollow opening in the ground, and beside it 大 (big) — a person stretching both arms out as wide as they go. Picture a perimeter fence enclosing the yard, put 突 inside it, and let that scene stand for "thrust" — thrust / sudden. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 警 down and you get 敬 (respect) — a hand tapping a reminder to stand a little straighter, out of respect, and beside it 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth. Picture two speech bubbles overlapping in a conversation, put 警 inside it, and let that scene stand for "warn" — warn / police. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 観 down and you get 見 (see / look) — an eye on legs, walking out to take a look. Picture an eye looking straight ahead, put 観 inside it, and let that scene stand for "observe" — observe / view. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 築 down and you get 筑 (build / construct) — bamboo poles gripped tight in both hands, being fitted into place, and beside it 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down. Picture two bamboo stalks with their segments, put 築 inside it, and let that scene stand for "build" — build / construct. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 導 down and you get 道 (road / path) — a road winding past, with a head raised to look down its length, and beside it 寸 (measure / inch) — a hand measuring a short distance. Picture a road disappearing through a tunnel cut into a hillside, put 導 inside it, and let that scene stand for "guide" — guide / lead. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 景 down and you get 日 (sun / day) — the sun framed by four strokes, marking one day, and beside it 京 (capital) — a tall hall above the rooftops. Picture the sun glowing with a warm halo at dusk, put 景 inside it, and let that scene stand for "scenery" — scenery. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a coin, the money things are traded for: that is what 値 means — value / price. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 直 (straight / fix) — an eye sighting straight down a line. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 渉 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge, and beside it 歩 (step / walk) — two footprints set one just ahead of the other, mid-stride. Picture water falling from a rock ledge into the pool below it, put 渉 inside it, and let that scene stand for "cross" — cross / negotiate. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 雑 down and you get 隹 (short-tailed bird) — a small bird perched with its wing folded. Picture a small bird perched with its wing folded, put 雑 inside it, and let that scene stand for "miscellaneous" — miscellaneous / rough. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 誌 down and you get 言 (speech / words) — words rising out of an open mouth, and beside it 志 (will / intention) — a firm stance held steady right over the heart. Picture a banner unfurled to announce something, put 誌 inside it, and let that scene stand for "magazine" — magazine. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 困 down and you get 囗 (enclosure / border) — a wall drawn right round the outside, and beside it 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down. Picture a wall drawn right around what it holds, put 困 inside it, and let that scene stand for "be troubled" — be troubled. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 吸 down and you get 口 (mouth / opening) — an open mouth, or any opening, and beside it 及 (reach / catch up to) — a hand stretching out just far enough to catch up with what's ahead. Picture an open mouth, put 吸 inside it, and let that scene stand for "inhale" — inhale. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 迎 down and you get ⻌ (road / movement) — a road running along the bottom of the character. Picture a road disappearing through a tunnel cut into a hillside, put 迎 inside it, and let that scene stand for "welcome" — welcome. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 越 down and you get 走 (run) — someone running along the road. Picture a crossroads with a person walking through it and a signboard at the corner, put 越 inside it, and let that scene stand for "cross over" — cross over / exceed. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 述 down and you get ⻌ (road / movement) — a road running along the bottom of the character. Picture a milestone post standing beside the road, put 述 inside it, and let that scene stand for "state" — state / describe. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture two speech bubbles overlapping in a conversation: that is what 辞 means — resign / word. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 舌 (tongue) — a tongue moving inside an open mouth, and beside it 辛 (bitter / spicy) — a blade point balanced upright, sharp enough to sting the tongue. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 遊 down and you get ⻌ (road / movement) — a road running along the bottom of the character. Picture a milestone post standing beside the road, put 遊 inside it, and let that scene stand for "play" — play. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 泣 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge, and beside it 立 (stand) — a person standing firmly on the ground. Picture a drop of water above rippling waves, put 泣 inside it, and let that scene stand for "cry" — cry. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 笑 down and you get 竹 (bamboo) — two bamboo stalks with their leaves. Picture two bamboo stalks with their segments, put 笑 inside it, and let that scene stand for "laugh" — laugh. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 怒 down and you get 心 (heart / feeling) — a heart, the seat of how you feel. Picture a heart, standing for how something feels, put 怒 inside it, and let that scene stand for "get angry" — get angry. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 悲 down and you get 非 (wrong / not) — two wings spread apart, feathers pointing in opposite directions, and beside it 心 (heart / feeling) — a heart, the seat of how you feel. Picture a heart-shaped lantern glowing on its string, put 悲 inside it, and let that scene stand for "sad" — sad. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a heart-shaped lantern glowing on its string: that is what 喜 means — rejoice. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 吉 (good luck) — a confident stance held right over an open, smiling mouth. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 驚 down and you get 敬 (respect) — a hand tapping a reminder to stand a little straighter, out of respect, and beside it 馬 (horse) — a horse with its mane and four legs. Picture a horse standing in profile, put 驚 inside it, and let that scene stand for "be surprised" — be surprised. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 忘 down and you get 亡 (vanish / lost) — a figure ducking down out of sight beneath a low cover, and beside it 心 (heart / feeling) — a heart, the seat of how you feel. Picture rows of curved roof tiles overlapping down from the ridge, put 忘 inside it, and let that scene stand for "forget" — forget. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 頑 down and you get 頁 (head / page) — a head bent over a page. Picture a head fixed rigidly in place, unmoved by the arrows trying to turn it, put 頑 inside it, and let that scene stand for "stubborn" — stubborn / strive. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 張 down and you get 弓 (bow / arc) — a bow bent and ready to spring back, and beside it 長 (long / chief) — hair grown long enough to trail. Picture a bow drawn and aimed straight ahead, put 張 inside it, and let that scene stand for "stretch" — stretch / paste. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 頼 down and you get 束 (bundle / bind) — branches tied at the middle, and beside it 頁 (head / page) — a head bent over a page. Picture a document marked with an official stamp, put 頼 inside it, and let that scene stand for "request" — request / rely. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 預 down and you get 予 (beforehand / give) — a shuttle passed forward from one hand to the next before it is needed, and beside it 頁 (head / page) — a head bent over a page. Picture a document rolled into a scroll at both ends, put 預 inside it, and let that scene stand for "deposit" — deposit / entrust. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a drawstring purse with coins spilling from it: that is what 札 means — tag / bill (money). 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 乙 (bend / second) — a stroke that bends before it finishes. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

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

💡 Break 清 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge, and beside it 青 (blue / green) — the clear blue of water and sky. Picture a drop of water above rippling waves, put 清 inside it, and let that scene stand for "pure" — pure / clean. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

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

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

💡 Picture a person resting under a blanket in bed: that is what 寝 means — sleep. 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.

💡 Picture a bed made up for someone to rest in: that is what 眠 means — sleep / sleepy. 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 疲 down and you get 疒 (illness) — someone lying on a bed, resting, and beside it 皮 (skin / hide) — a hide pulled off in one piece. Picture a bed made up for someone to rest in, put 疲 inside it, and let that scene stand for "tired" — tired. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 痛 down and you get 疒 (illness) — someone lying on a bed, resting, and beside it 甬 (tube / passage) — a hollow tube standing upright, open straight through from end to end. Picture a person resting under a blanket in bed, put 痛 inside it, and let that scene stand for "painful" — painful. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 療 down and you get 疒 (illness) — someone lying on a bed, resting, and beside it 尞 (bonfire / companions) — a bonfire with sparks flying up and out to both sides. Picture a bed made up for someone to rest in, put 療 inside it, and let that scene stand for "medical treatment" — medical treatment. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 看 down and you get 手 (hand) — a hand with its fingers and wrist, and beside it 目 (eye) — an eye stood on its end, pupil lines inside. Picture an eye looking straight ahead, put 看 inside it, and let that scene stand for "watch over" — watch over / nurse. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a person with one arm raised, waving, and set 師 inside that picture. The scene is the hook: bring it back and 師 comes with it, meaning "teacher / master".

💡 Break 般 down and you get 舟 (boat) — a boat riding on the water, and beside it 殳 (action / tool) — a hand swinging a tool. Picture a boat under sail, put 般 inside it, and let that scene stand for "general" — general / carrier. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture stepping stones leading forward one pace at a time: that is what 段 means — step / grade. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 殳 (action / tool) — a hand swinging a tool. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.