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péng
puffy
月 + 彭péng
body part + Peng
Character Notes

Which body part of drummer boy Peng is getting puffy?

Character Comparison

píng
evaluate
讠 + 平píng
microphone + even
Character Notes

In a microphone at a debate: a very even argument, hard to evaluate who won.

Picture evaluating apples on a scale and announcing through a microphone your rating.

Character Comparison
Series

kǒu
mouth
Character Notes

as a component: “口字旁” or “口字底”

Character Comparison
囗 wéi enclose

black ink
黑 + 土
black + soil
Character Notes

black ink made with black soil

Character Comparison
Series

guān
observe
又 + 见
right hand + see
Character Notes

In court: Did you observe…?

I swear (with my right hand raised) I saw

Character Comparison
Series

plum
木mù + 子zǐ
tree + child
Character Notes

Plums are the tree’s children.

a common surname: ”木子李“

Character Comparison

gāo
cake
米 + 羔gāo
rice + lamb
Character Notes

Picture a Chinese cake made of rice and lamb.

Character Comparison

jué
decide
冫 + 夬
ice + Iron Man
Character Notes

When Iron Man tests his suit, he goes really high, but ice forms, making him decide to modify it.

Character Comparison

yuán
beginning, *Adam & Eve
二 + 儿
two + human legs
Character Notes

The Bible starts with the creation story: “In the beginning…” and tells of the first two humans, Adam and Eve.

Character Comparison

jìng
trail [n.]
彳 + *泾jīng
queue + crane
Character Notes

queue froms at the head of the trail because a crane is blocking the way

Character Comparison
Series

niáng
mom
女 + 良liáng
woman + halo
Character Notes

Perhaps the world’s most famous mom is the hallowed young woman, Mary, who becomes the mother of Jesus. (Bible Series)

Character Comparison

gòu
purchase [v.]
贝 + 勾gōu
shells + cross out
Character Notes

use shells to make your purchase and cross it off your list

Character Comparison

accumulate
禾 + 只zhǐ
grain + only
Character Notes

Grain only accumulates during seasons of activity.

Character Comparison

de
[for verb complements]
彳 + 旦dàn + 寸
queue + daybreak + thumb
Character Notes

Think verb to what end? A day worker queued up at daybreak, with their thumb up to get picked up.

Character Comparison

*spear head
spear modified
Character Notes
Character Comparison
Series

A

*kerchief
clothing modified
Character Notes
Character Comparison
𧘇 scarf

zhěn
*cocktail
𠆢 + 彡
umbrella + bird tail
Character Notes

little umbrella in your cocktail is really a bird tail feather

Character Comparison
Series

hǒu
roar [v.]
口 + 孔
mouth + cavity
Character Notes

If the dentist's numbing shots in your mouth weren’t precise enough, there was roaring when he filled that cavity.

Character Comparison

nose
自 + 畀
nose + runny nose
Character Notes

two views of the nose: straight on and straight up

alternatively: 自 + 田 + 廾 nose + field + two hands, manure field, cover nose with both hands

Character Comparison
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