什

shén = sh + (e)n2

what

什

shí = sh + Ø2

ten (used in fractions, writing checks etc) / assorted / miscellaneous

什 character breakdown

什
- 亻
  - 丨
  - 丿
- 十
  - 一
  - 丨

亻

rén = r + (e)n2

"person" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 9)

亻 = 丿 + 丨 : Mnemonic symbol: Rosa Luxemburg. She's quite radical, and her name starts with "r", just like "ren2". Also, 亻appears at the left-hand side of characters, and Rosa is a leftist as well.

Robinson Crusoe (r) and Rosa Luxemburg (亻) are having their favorite snacks in the encampment's kitchen: Rosa is eating a banana (丿) and Robinson is eating a dinosaur bone (丨).

十

shí = sh + Ø2

ten / 10

十 = 一 + 丨 : Mnemonic symbol: a holy cross. Sherlock Holmes (sh-) is investigating a very strange thing he found in the kitchen of the space station (-2): A big pyramid made of ten (十) crosses (十), which are in turn made out of flutes (一) and dinosaur bones (丨).