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silk
纟 + 纟
thread + thread
Character Notes

silk threads woven together into silk fabric

Character Comparison

tuī
push
扌 + 隹zhuī
hand + special bird
Character Notes

use hand to push a pardoned turkey out of the way

Character Comparison

lóu
*bride
米 + 女
rice + woman
Character Notes

The bride is the woman who gets rice thrown on her.

Character Comparison

diǎn
canon
曲 + 一 + 八
bent + one + animal legs
Character Notes

picture a huge canon of a dictionary that has grown animal legs, a "walking dictionary"

Character Comparison
Series

líng
age level
齿 + 令lìng
teeth + orders/alarm clock
Character Notes

Losing baby teeth is a right of passage in many cultures, representing moving on to the next age level. If your baby teeth are not falling out on their own, alarm bells ring for the dentist, and he will recommend extraction.

Character Comparison

shè
ford [v.]
氵 + 步
water + step
Character Notes

To ford is to step through the water.

Character Comparison
Series

pèi
wear at the waist
亻 + 几 + 一 + 巾
persona + wind + one + towel
Character Notes

Picture your persona only wearing towel around his/her waist. The wind is going to be a problem.

Character Comparison

𠂇

zuǒ
*by one’s side
Character Notes

In statues of famous historical figures, often the sculptor positions the figure in such a way or puts objects by their side or in their hand to represent something about their life or work.

Character Comparison

jǐn
tight
Ujiān + 糸
swordplay + fine silk
Character Notes

swordplay pants made of tight fine silk

Character Comparison

zuǒ
left [n./adj.]
𠂇 + 工
by one’s side + I-beam/work
Character Notes

Sergio Furnari created this sculpture based on the famous photograph by Charles C. Ebbets of New York steel workers taking a break on an I-beam high in the air. You can use the sound of "gōngzuò" 工作 to remember left (左 zuǒ). Work is also a left-brained activity.

Character Comparison

róng
down [n.]
纟 + 戎róng
threads + padding
Character Notes

Down needs to be covered and sewn loosely with threads to become padding.

Character Comparison

jūn
monarch, *Trump
尹 + 口
overseer/mop + mouth
Character Notes

"Trump has a mop of hair and a mouth to match, aspires to be a monarch." (Stand-up Comedian)

Character Comparison

jiǎo
angle, *Big Bad Wolf, animal horn
⺈ + 用
mask + Little Red Riding Hood
Character Notes

Think of another angle on the story from the perspective of the Big Bad Wolf.

"Big Bad Wolf disguises himself to fool Little Red Riding Hood." (Little Red)

It is hard to see now, but anciently, this was a picture of an animal horn, and it can still mean that. (Grandma, what a big horn you have!)

Character Comparison

huá
clamor [n.]
口 + 华huá
mouth + splendor
Character Notes

The people’s mouths were all clamoring to see the splendor of the transformed person

Character Comparison
Series

cry [v.]
吅 + 犬
chatterbox + small dog
Character Notes

dog howling

chatterbox Pekingese brings tears of rage to your eyes

Character Comparison

wèi
defend
卩 + 一
notarized + floor
Character Notes

defend the legal, notarized document on the floor of the court room

Character Comparison

shuǎ
mess around
而 + 女
beard + woman
Character Notes

This woman doesn’t mess around with beards; she wants a man with a clean-shaven face.

Santa baby, hurry down the chimney tonight.

Character Comparison

*thumb prick
甫fǔ + 寸
injection + thumb
Character Notes

A thumb prick is an injection into the thumb.

Character Comparison

tuō
entrust
扌 + 乇tuō
hand + fur ball
Character Notes

You entrust your pet guinea pig, Fur Ball, to the hands of a friend, who takes him on a motorcycle ride.

Character Comparison
Series
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