增

to increase / to expand / to add

增 = 土 + 曾 : In front of the engine ((e)ng1) some fireflies (曾) are busy increasing (增) the height of the hill on which engine rests by piling up dirt (土) so that it counts as a mountain. Zorro (z) came to interview them but since they are so tiny they need to use an amplifier (增) so that Zorro can hear what they are saying.

增

ze̅ng = z + (e)ng1

(bound form) to increase; to augment; to add to

增 character breakdown

增
- 土
  - 一
  - 十
    - 一
    - 丨
- 曾
  - 丷
  - 八
    - 丿
    - ㇏
  - 囗
  - 曰
    - 一
    - 囗
  - 田
    - 十
      - 一
      - 丨
    - 囗
  - ⺌
    - 小
      - 亅
      - 八
        
        丿
        
        ㇏

土

tǔ = tu + Ø3

Tu (ethnic group) / surname Tu

土

tǔ = tu + Ø3

earth / dust / clay / local / indigenous / crude opium / unsophisticated / one of the eight categories of ancient musical instruments 八音[ba1 yin1]

土 = 十 + 一 : Tommy Turtle (tu) wants to fix a cross (十) on a flute (一) in the space station's living room (Ø3). He uses dust and clay (土) to hold them together.

曾

ze̅ng = z + (e)ng1

surname Zeng

曾

céng = c + (e)ng2

once / already / ever (in the past) / former / previously / (past tense marker used before verb or clause)

曾 = 丷 + 囗 + ⺌ + 曰 : Mnemonic symbol: I think 曾 just looks like a firefly, with the head (with two feelers) at the top and the glowing body at the bottom.

The firefly is selling aloe vera out of a big wooden box in the kitchen of the Erechtheion. With a big microphone it is advertising the aloe. As it sees a mean crocodile and the King of Chu starting a big fight for the aloe, the firefly is very excited and states that it has never ever seen something like this before.

曾

ze̅ng = z + (e)ng1

great- (grandfather, grandchild etc)