枯

ku̅ = ku + Ø1

dried up

枯 = 古 + 木 : Karl Koala (ku) is exploring a cloister (古) which appeared in front of the space station (Ø1). In the cloister he finds a Christmas tree (木), but it is stone old (古) and already extremely dried up (枯).

枯 character breakdown

枯
- 古
  - 十
    - 一
    - 丨
  - 口
- 木
  - 八
    - 丿
    - ㇏
  - 十
    - 一
    - 丨

古

gǔ = gu + Ø3

surname Gu

古

gǔ = gu + Ø3

ancient / old / paleo-

古 = 十 + 口 : Mnemonic symbol: at least on German maps, this character actually resembles a cloister.

Oh no! Gitta Giraffe (gu) found that the golden cross (十) broke off of the cloister (古) in the space station's living room (Ø3)! She skewers a mandarin (口) on top of the cloister so that she can skewer the broken off cross back on to fix it.

木

mù = mu + Ø4

surname Mu

木

mù = mu + Ø4

tree / wood / coffin / wooden / simple / numb / one of the eight categories of ancient musical instruments 八音[ba1 yin1]

木 = 八 + 十 : Mnemonic symbol: a Christmas tree. Malte Monkey is putting up a Christmas tree (木) in the bathroom of the space station (Ø4). He's using a cross (十) as a base to put the tree on, and decorates the tree with eight-balls (八).

木

mù = mu + Ø4

(bound form) tree / (bound form) wood / unresponsive; numb; wooden