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lineage
丿 + 糸mì
slash/line + fine silk
Character Notes

line that ties Chinese lineage (family history of generations) is made of fine silk

Character Comparison

period of time
其qí + 月
laundry basket + month
Character Notes

After a period of time, the laundry basket begins to stink: a month is too long between washes.

Character Comparison

fēn
essence
艹 + 分fēn
flowers + part
Character Notes

From which part of the flower do you extract the essence?

Character Comparison

juǎn
roll
龹juàn + 㔾
quarter + worm
Character Notes

Roll up a worm and cut it into quarters.

Picture a cinnamon roll that is curled up like a worm and cut into quarters.

Character Comparison

H

*guard tower
丶 + I
drop + Great Wall
Character Notes
Character Comparison

jiǎn
simple
⺮ + 间jiān
bamboo + interval
Character Notes

In this class students will learn a simple arithmetic technique: using bamboo to mark intervals.

Character Comparison

wéi
surround
囗wéi + 韦wéi
enclose + tanned hide
Character Notes

smoke house encloses and surrounds the tanned hides

Character Comparison
Series

rǎo
harass
扌 + 尤
hand + Goofy
Character Notes

Goofy’s hand stops harassment at the park

Character Comparison

èr
II (formal 2)
二èr + 贝 + 弋
two + shells + pistol
Character Notes

Picture a formal document between two parties of a duel listing the terms of the duel: I. the shells that can be paid to settle the dispute, II. the acceptable kinds of pistols.

Character Comparison

rén
*knight
丿 + 士
slash + soldier
Character Notes

knighting ceremony: slash over a soldier

Character Comparison
Series

xíng
mold [v.]
刑xíng + 土
punishment + soil
Character Notes

As a punishment, you are forced to use soil and a mold to make bricks.

Character Comparison
Series

shuāi
tumble [v.]
扌 + 率shuài
hand + rate
Character Notes

hand grasps as your rate increases and tumbling is likely

Character Comparison
Series

tile
Character Notes
Character Comparison

lǎo
old, *old person
土 + 丿 + 匕
soil + slash + sitting down/spoon
Character Notes

Look at this picture of an old person: soil in their eyes, sitting on the ground.

An old person eventually returns to the soil, has to be fed with a spoon.

Character Comparison

rǎng
territory
土 + 襄xiāng
soil + Jiminy Cricket
Character Notes

territory of Jiminy Cricket’s soil is small

Character Comparison
Series

dài
arrest
隶 + 辶
bondservant
Character Notes

Arrest the Bondservant: In some ways, sharecroppers during the Depression were bondservants. This one was minding his own business but still got arrested. (1930's On the Road)

Character Comparison

xún
inquire
讠 + 旬xún
microphone + decameron
Character Notes

you have inquired about the job, the microphone announces you can come back in a decameron for a second interview

Character Comparison
Series

nóng
concentrated
氵 + 农nóng
water + agriculture
Character Notes

Princess Agriculture‘s new product: concentrated agriculture in a bottle—just add water!

Character Comparison

xiàn
constitution
宀 + 先xiān
house + first
Character Notes

The Constitution house, where in their political views, one thing comes first: the Constitution!

Character Comparison
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