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axe
父fù + 斤
father + axe
Character Notes

In your collection of axes, this biggest one is “the Father.”

Character Comparison
斤jīn *axe

*patched hole
穴 - 丶
hole - drop
Character Notes

drops can't get through the roof once it has been patched

Character Comparison

exceed
俞yú + 辶
slaughterhouse + road
Character Notes

Exceed (the Date) on the Slaughterhouse (Meat): In Depression times, nothing is wasted, even expired meat. Here the slaughterhouse is giving away anything extra to those headed out on the road.

Character Comparison

yào
medicine
艹 + 约yuē
flowers + make an appointment
Character Notes

"These flowers are actually grown for medicine. I had to make an appointment with an herbalist to get them." (Wedding Planner)

alternatively: 艹 + 纟 + 勺 flowers + thread + ladle, traditional medicine made from flowers, tied up with thread, boil it and ladle out the soup

Character Comparison

hái
tot
子 + 亥hài
child + acorn
Character Notes

tot (child) collecting acorns

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

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

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

little umbrella in your cocktail is really a bird tail feather

Character Comparison
Series

A

*kerchief
clothing modified
Character Notes
Character Comparison
𧘇 scarf

*spear head
spear modified
Character Notes
Character Comparison
Series

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

verb to what end? day worker waiting in line at daybreak, with their thumb up to get picked up

Character Comparison

accumulate
禾 + 只zhǐ
grain + only
Character Notes

our accumulated weight at pack out is only the grain we are shipping

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

niáng
mom
女 + 良liáng
woman + halo
Character Notes

Perhaps the world’s most famous mom was the hallowed young woman, Mary, who became the mother of Jesus.

Character Comparison
Series

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

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

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

gāo
cake
米 + 羔gāo
rice + lamb
Character Notes

Chinese cake made of rice and lamb

Character Comparison

plum
木mù + 子zǐ
tree + child
Character Notes

plums are the tree’s children

a common surname: ”木子李“

Character Comparison
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