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recruit [v.]
莫mò + 力
mirage + muscle
Character Notes

Picture someone creating a mirage to strong-arm someone into recruitment.

Character Comparison
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let in
纟 + 内nèi
thread + internal
Character Notes

Tying up loose ends by accepting the thread of the argument internally, let it in on the inside.

Let in a loose thread to the internal side of your sweater.

Character Comparison
Series

zuǎn
chignon
算suàn + 糸
calculate + fine silk
Character Notes

You calculate the number of red fine silk ribbons used to tie a chignon (hair bun).

Character Comparison
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zhǔ
admonish
口 + 属shǔ
mouth + belong to
Character Notes

Picture your elder admonishing: remember who you are, who you belong to.

Character Comparison
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wén
design [n.]
纟 + 文wén
thread + gentleman farmer
Character Notes

The gentleman farmer had the design of the character 文 sewn in thread into his top hat.

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qīn
think highly of
钅jīn + 欠qiàn
metal + lack
Character Notes

One thinks highly of a metal that lacks impurities.

Character Comparison
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imperial concubine
女 + 臣(modified)
woman + feudal official/loft bed
Character Notes

This imperial concubine is a woman who also spent time in a feudal official's loft bed (but notice it is fancier than the normal one.)

Character Comparison
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zhèn
vibrate
扌 + 辰chén
hand + earthquake
Character Notes

Your hand causes earthquake-like conditions by vibrating the table.

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simulate
扌 + 以yǐ
hand + by means of
Character Notes

The simulation is controlled by means of your hand.

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jiè
fall due
尸 + 由
flag + sprout
Character Notes

You put a flag next to a sprout, so you know when watering falls due.

Character Comparison
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bīn
mixed colors
纟 + 宾bīn
thread + visitor
Character Notes

Picture an interesting visitor wearing threads of mixed colors.

Character Comparison
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jiá
pod
艹 + 夹jiā
flowers + press from both sides
Character Notes

In flowers, the seed pod is pressed from both sides to keep the seeds inside.

Character Comparison
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nourish
氵 + 兹zī
water + Siamese twins
Character Notes

Picture mysterious Siamese twin water babies, nourished with water.

Character Comparison
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bāo
bud
艹 + 包bāo
flowers + wrap
Character Notes

A bud is a flower tightly wrapped, ready to burst.

Character Comparison
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qiáo
lay eyes on
目 + 焦jiāo
eyes + apprehensive/roast bird
Character Notes

You lay eyes on the red juice coming from the roast turkey and get apprehensive.

Character Comparison
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shuò
luminous
火huǒ + 乐
fire + happy music
Character Notes

Dancing fire is a kind of luminous happy music.

Character Comparison
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tǎn
blanket
毛 + 炎yán
fur + inflammation
Character Notes

Picture being allergic to a fur blanket: it inflames you.

Character Comparison
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yān
inundate
氵 + 奄yǎn
water + electrocute
Character Notes

Was the cause of death inundation of water (drowning?) or electrocution?

Character Comparison
Series

líng
mausoleum
阝 + 夌líng
pinnacle + mole
Character Notes

Think of a famous mole, maybe the one from The Wind in the Willows. His mausoleum in under a pinnacle, of course.

Character Comparison
Series
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