Pinyin "cai3"

In MandarinBanana's mnemonic system, the Pinyin syllable "cai3" is split up into two parts: "c" and "ai3". You can visit the Pinyin index to see how other Pinyin syllables are split up into initials and finals.

Mnemonics for Pinyin initial "c"

C is for the King of Chu.

Mnemonics for Pinyin final "ai3"

In the airplane's living room.

Characters pronounced cai3

采
cǎi = c + ai3
color / complexion / looks / variant of 彩[cai3] / variant of 採|采[cai3]
采
採
cǎi = c + ai3
to pick / to pluck / to collect / to select / to choose / to gather
采 = 木 + 爫 : The King of Chu (c) decorated the airplane's (ai3) Christmas trees (木) with plectrums (采), now it's time to decorate himself. He selects parts of his beard to shave with an electric razor (爫), then goes on to select some of the leaves to pluck them out and put them in his partly shaved face.
采 = 木 + 爫 : Mnemonic symbol: a plectrum.
彩
cǎi = c + ai3
(bright) color / variety / applause / applaud / lottery prize
彩 = 彡 + 采 : The King of Chu (c) is playing his fake Santa Clause beard (彡) by pulling the beard with one hand and plucking (采) the hairs using a plectrum (采) in the airplane (ai3). He is playing a variety (彩) of songs and the audience is applauding (彩) frantically.
踩
cǎi = c + ai3
to step on / to tread / to stamp / to press a pedal / to pedal (a bike) / (online) to downvote
踩 = ⻊ + 采 : The King of Chu (c) is playing his guitar in the airplane (ai3). Every time he looses his plectrum (采) he quickly steps (踩) on it with his left cowboy boot (⻊) to prevent it from rolling away.
踩
跴
cǎi = c + ai3
variant of 踩[cai3]
踩 = ⻊ + 采 : The King of Chu (c) is playing his guitar in the airplane (ai3). Every time he looses his plectrum (采) he quickly steps (踩) on it with his left cowboy boot (⻊) to prevent it from rolling away.
睬
倸
cǎi = c + ai3
variant of 睬[cai3]
睬 = 目 + 采 : The King of Chu (c) is playing a song for the sun (目) in the airplane (ai3), but the sun is not paying attention to the song at all. It only pays attention (睬) to the King of Chu's beautiful golden plectrum (采).
睬
cǎi = c + ai3
to pay attention / to take notice of / to care for
睬 = 目 + 采 : The King of Chu (c) is playing a song for the sun (目) in the airplane (ai3), but the sun is not paying attention to the song at all. It only pays attention (睬) to the King of Chu's beautiful golden plectrum (采).
䌽
綵
cǎi = c + ai3
variant of 彩[cai3]