straight / upright / proper / main / principal / to correct / to rectify / exactly / just (at that time) / right (in that place) / (math.) positive
正
=
一
+
止
:
Mnemonic symbol: a stick-figure with straight lines. James II of England (zh) really has to use the engine's bathroom ((e)ng4), but there's a stick-figure (正) blocking the stalls with a barrier (止). The stick-figure measures with a flute (一) whether James is tall enough to go. James stands very straight (正) to make himself as tall as possible.
to be / to act as / manage / withstand / when / during / ought / should / match equally / equal / same / obstruct / just at (a time or place) / on the spot / right / just at
当
=
小
+
彐
:
This character looks like an angry pitbull. 小 forms the eyes and maybe nose, and 彐 are the dangerous teeth.
当
=
小
+
彐
:
Don Quixote opposes a dangerous pit bull in front of the anglepod, and he tries to calm him down with a daisy.