Pinyin initial: "d"

The Pinyin initial "d" is used in the first half of Pinyin syllables. In MandarinBanana's mnemonic system, "d" belongs to the group of Pinyin initials which are represented in mnemonics by men. You can visit the Pinyin index to see all Pinyin syllables from this mnemonic group, or to see all Pinyin syllables "d" can appear in.

Mnemonics for d

D is for Don Quixote.

Characters with d

de = d + e5
of; ~'s (possessive particle) / (used after an attribute) / (used to form a nominal expression) / (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) / also pr. [di4] or [di5] in poetry and songs

= + : Don Quixote (d) ends up on the elevator's roof (e5) after a standoff. His only weapon left is a silver spoon (勺), so he can only wave with a white flag (白).
big; large; great / older (than another person) / eldest (as in 大姐[da4 jie3]) / greatly; freely; fully / (dialect) father / (dialect) uncle (father's brother)

= + : The big (大), huge (大) robot (mnemonic symbol for 大) is working out in the ashram's bathroom (a4). He's lifting a flute (一) to which Don Quixote (d) and Neanderthal man (人) are clinging.
see 大夫[dai4 fu5]
dawn / morning / daybreak / day / dan, female roles in Chinese opera (traditionally played by specialized male actors)

= + : Mnemonic symbol: A big mug, since many people start the day with a mug of coffee.

Don Quixote (d) meets the sun (日) early in the morning (旦) in the anthill's bathroom (an4). Don Quixote is full of energy and can't wait to start into a new adventure, but since the sun is a morning grouch who only just started drinking her mug of coffee (mnemonic symbol for 旦) she cannot stand it and beats him over the head with a flute (一) to calm him a bit down.
de = d + e5
-ly / structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct
surname Dao
knife / blade / single-edged sword / cutlass / CL:把[ba3] / (slang) dollar (loanword) / classifier for sets of one hundred sheets (of paper) / classifier for knife cuts or stabs

= + 丿 : Mnemonic symbol: 刀 looks like a cleaver (while 刂 looks like a kitchen knife).

Don Quixote (d) serves his good deed of the day in front of the aorta (ao1). In order to feed the people, he uses a plow (㇆) to dig up bananas (丿), and cuts them into slices with a broad cleaver (刀).
Kangxi radical 18 (刀[dao1]) as a vertical side element / see also 立刀旁[li4 dao1 pang2] / see also 側刀旁|侧刀旁[ce4 dao1 pang2]

= + : Mnemonic symbol: a kitchen knife. Don Quixote (d) is showing off his special knifes in front of the aorta (ao1). One is made from a dinosaur bone (丨), and the other is made from a crowbar (亅).
to (a place) / until (a time) / up to / to go / to arrive / (verb complement denoting completion or result of an action)

= + : Don Quixote has been waiting at the arrivals conveyor belt in the aorta's bathroom for way too long, but finally his new kitchen knife arrived.
to reach; to arrive / to leave for; to go to / to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) / (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point) / considerate; thoughtful; thorough
road / path / CL:條|条[tiao2],股[gu3] / principle / truth / morality / reason / skill / method / Dao (of Daoism) / to say / to speak / to talk / classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process / (old) circuit (administrative division)

= + : The chief and Don Quixote decided to follow the path of the Dao in the aorta's bathroom. They wear gladiator sandals and meditate sitting on the floor of the bathroom, envisioning the path to enlightment.
class / rank / grade / equal to / same as / to wait for / to await / et cetera / and so on / et al. (and other authors) / after / as soon as / once

= + : Inside of the engine, Don Quixote is praying in front of a Buddhist shrine. He brought a bamboo stick as offer, and he lighted it at the very top. Now he's waiting for the stick to burn down so he can go home. However, the stick is very long: Don Quixote will have to wait for a long time.
to obtain / old variant of 得[de2]

= + : Just inside the elevator's kitchen, Don Quixote asks a genie from a magic lamp to fulfil his only wish: a big mug of coffee to start the day. The genie gives him the thumbs up and hands him a big coffee mug.

= + : Symbol for "obtain": A genie from a magic lamp who lets you get everything you want to obtain.
to obtain (old variant of 得[de2])
to have to / must / ought to / to need to

= + : Because Don Quixote kicked the genie's lamp from the rooftop of the Erechtheion as far as to inside of the Eiffel Tower, the genie demands Don Quixote to apologize. Inside of the Eiffel Tower, Don Quixote kowtows to the genie, who takes back the black sneakers he gave to Don Quixote earlier.
to obtain / to get / to gain / to catch (a disease) / proper / suitable / proud / contented / to allow / to permit / ready / finished

= + : Don Quixote found a magic lamp and rubs it inside the elevator's kitchen. A genie appears and grants Don Quixote his wish for black sneakers. Unfortunately they are second hand and so smelly that Don Quixote instantly catches a disease.
de = d + e5
structural particle: used after a verb (or adjective as main verb), linking it to following phrase indicating effect, degree, possibility etc

= + : Because Don Quixote is so disappointed by the black sneakers he got from the genie from the magic lamp, he kicks both very mad from the rooftop of the elevator.
all / both / entirely / (used for emphasis) even / already / (not) at all

= + : Louis XIV wants to subject the world, and he starts with Don Quixote and the Emperor by standing on their backs while they crouch on the floor.
all; both; entirely / (used for emphasis) even / already / (not) at all
dozen (loanword)