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kǎo
take an exam
耂lǎo + 丂kǎo
old man + broken bow/5
Character Notes

Picture an old man as the proctor of the SAT exam--all he says is “5 minutes”

Old man Confucius scored a perfect 5 on the exam.

Character Comparison

break [v.]
石 + 皮pí
stone + covering
Character Notes

Use a stone to break through the covering.

Character Comparison
Series

creak
口 + 一 + 自 + 戈gē
mouth + ceiling + nose + rifle
Character Notes

This is the sound made by a POW who is being tortured to extract information. He is being hung by his nose from the ceiling with a rifle pointed at him.

Character Comparison

shè
society
礻shì + 土
Eastern altar + soil
Character Notes

Dear Ancestors, the soil you worked is still supporting a prosperous society. Thank you.

Character Comparison

gōng
public [adj.]
八 + 厶
eight + monument
Character Notes

Public bus #8 goes to the monument.

This character can also refer to an old man. Picture your maternal grandfather taking public bus #8 to a monument.

Character Comparison

chè
pitchfork
Character Notes
Character Comparison
Series

tribe
9 + 矢
banner + dart
Character Notes

armed with darts under a banner to form a tribe

banner for the Dart tribe

Character Comparison

shū
graceful
氵 + 叔shū
water + uncle
Character Notes

Uncle Schubert is graceful in the water.

Character Comparison

wèi
be afraid of
田 + A
field + kerchief
Character Notes

You are afraid when you see your daughter’s abandoned kerchief in the field.

Character Comparison

cǎn
wretched
忄 + 参cān
meme + participate
Character Notes

meme of wretchedness: being forced to participate in pep rally

Character Comparison
Series

鹿

deer
广 + a + 比
cave + “antlers” + compare
Character Notes

You haven’t been able to tame a deer as a pet, but you keep their antlers on the wall of your cave and compare the sizes. (Hunter-Gatherer)

Character Comparison

bǐng
third
一 + 内
ceiling + internal
Character Notes

third class sleeper car, ceiling is so close, put up hood to block it out

Character Comparison
Series

pín
repeatedly
步 + 页
step + head
Character Notes

step on someone’s head repeatedly

Character Comparison
Series

bǐng
flat cake
饣 + 并bìng
food + combine
Character Notes

a bǐng is a food that usually combines egg and flour

alternatively: 饣+丷+开 food + horns + open, a food that is devilishly addictive and cooked on a open pan

Character Comparison

revive
艹 + 办
flowers + manage
Character Notes

revive the manager with the smell of flowers

Character Comparison

liè
inferior
少 + 力lì
few + power/muscle
Character Notes

Those with fewer muscles are inferior physically.

Character Comparison

kǎo
*5
Character Notes

Think of this sound element as the Arabic numeral 5.

Character Comparison
弓gōng
Series

gòng
tribute
工gōng + 贝
I-beam/work + shells
Character Notes

even construction workers have to pay a tribute of shells

Character Comparison

zhǔ
lord
丶 + 王
drop + king
Character Notes

A drop of a king is a lord.

Character Comparison
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