桿

gǎn = g + an3

stick / pole / lever / classifier for long objects such as guns

杆 = 干 + 木 : Guy Fawkes (g) is putting up Christmas decorations in the anthill (an3). He is using a stick (杆) to put dried fruits (干) on top of the Christmas tree (木).

桿 character breakdown

桿
- 旱
  - 干
    - 一
    - 十
      - 一
      - 丨
  - 日
    - 一
    - 囗
- 木
  - 八
    - 丿
    - ㇏
  - 十
    - 一
    - 丨

旱

hàn = h + an4

drought

旱 = 日 + 干 : Mnemonic symbol: a marmot, 旱獭.

Hamlet (h) used the drought (旱) to dry fruits (干) under the sun (日) in the anthill's bathroom (an4), but the marmot (旱) secretly stole and ate all the dried fruits.

木

mù = mu + Ø4

surname Mu

木

mù = mu + Ø4

tree / wood / coffin / wooden / simple / numb / one of the eight categories of ancient musical instruments 八音[ba1 yin1]

木 = 八 + 十 : Mnemonic symbol: a Christmas tree.

Malte Monkey (mu) is setting up a Christmas tree (木) in the bathroom of the space station (Ø4). He decorates the tree with eight-balls (八) and puts a holy cross (十) at the top of the tree.