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沉

chén
profound
氵 + 冗
water + superfluous
Character Notes

At Prince Superfluous’s funeral by the lake, there is profound stillness on the water, no superfluous sound.

Character Comparison

遵

zūn
abide by
尊zūn + 辶
venerate + road
Character Notes

Abide by Veneration: Traditional families still encourage their young to abide by what they’ve been taught despite difficulties, to venerate the road their forefathers have paved. (1930's On the Road)

Character Comparison

穴

xué
hole
宀 + 八
house + animal legs
Character Notes

animal legs hanging through a hole in the roof

as a component: “穴宝盖”

Character Comparison

城

chéng
city
土 + 成chéng
soil + turn into
Character Notes

soil turns into a city when you make it into walls and buildings

Character Comparison

渣

zhā
sediment
氵 + 查chá
water + check into
Character Notes

have to dive into the water to check into the sediment at the bottom

Character Comparison

的

de
[possessive particle]
白 + 勺
white + ladle
Character Notes

white de ladle:白色的勺子

Character Comparison

夹

jiā
press from both sides
一 + 丷 + 大
one + horns + large dog
Character Notes

Picture a large dog getting pressed from both sides by horns.

Character Comparison
Series

遭

zāo
meet with
曹cáo + 辶
Cao + road
Character Notes

Meeting with Cáo Cāo on the road: the Chinese equivalent of the English idiom "speak of the devil" is "speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives" (说到曹操,曹操就到)

Meet with Cao: For most Oakies, the first time meeting with a Chinese person is in California. (1930's On the Road)

Character Comparison

瘤

liú
tumor
疒 + 留liú
sickness + stay
Character Notes

a tumor is a lump that stays unless removed

Character Comparison
Series

耳

ěr
ear
Character Notes

as a component: “耳字旁”

Character Comparison

瘦

shòu
emaciated
疒 + 叟sǒu
sickness + skeleton/old man
Character Notes

"Trapped in an ice cave, you'll likely run out of food and thus become emaciated and sick. Come spring, they’ll just find your skeleton." (Hunter Gatherer)

Character Comparison

吸

xī
inhale
口 + 及jí
mouth + yoga
Character Notes

mouth inhales, important in yoga

Character Comparison
Series

何

hé
whatwhichwhowherewhy?
亻 + 可kě
persona + can
Character Notes

Whatwhichwhhowherewhy? Your persona can!

Character Comparison

袭

xí
raid [v.]
龙 + 衣yī
dragon + clothing
Character Notes

A dragon in clothing aids the raid.

Character Comparison

𧘇

*scarf
衣
clothing modified
Character Notes
Character Comparison
Series

百

bǎi
hundred
一 + 白bái
one + white
Character Notes

hair turns white at 100

Japanese call age 99 your "white year" because 100-1(百-一)=99(白)

Character Comparison

袜

wà
socks
衤 + 末
clothing + last
Character Notes

The lastclothing item she puts on in the morning: socks.

Character Comparison

堡

bǎo
fort
保bǎo + 土
safeguard + soil
Character Notes

a fort safeguards the soil inside it OR soil mounds safeguard the fort

Character Comparison
Series

喜

xǐ
joyful
壴 + 口
drummer boy + mouth
Character Notes

Make a joyful noise with drum and mouth!

Alternatively: 士 + 豆 + 口 soldier + beans + mouth

A soldier likes to eat his beans!

Character Comparison
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