Pinyin "sao3"

In MandarinBanana's mnemonic system, the Pinyin syllable "sao3" is split up into two parts: "s" and "ao3". You can visit the Pinyin index to see how other Pinyin syllables are split up into initials and finals.

Mnemonics for Pinyin initial "s"

Socrates.

Mnemonics for Pinyin final "ao3"

In the aorta's living room.

Characters pronounced sao3

扫
掃
sǎo = s + ao3
to sweep
扫 = 彐 + 扌 : Socrates (s) is sweeping the aorta (ao3) using a broom (扫). There are big pig snouts (彐) lying around on the floor which he picks up using a toy claw (扌) because they are too big to sweep (扫).
嫂
sǎo = s + ao3
older brother's wife / sister-in-law
嫂 = 叟 + 女 : Because Bessie Coleman (s) is married to the old gentleman (叟) she is Socrate's (s) sister-in-law (嫂). They're all meeting in the aorta (ao3) for a family gathering.