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.
巩
=
凡
+
工
:
Mnemonic symbol: a padlock is both secure and solid.
Although it is forbidden, van Gogh (凡) created a new piece of art by securing (巩) steel beams (工) to the rocks inside of the engine ((e)ng3) using padlocks (巩). Gitta Giraffe, who is to care about engine tries to remove the piece, but it is very solid (巩).