chǒu
=
ch
+
ou3:
clown / 2nd earthly branch: 1-3 a.m., 12th solar month (6th January to 3rd February), year of the Ox / ancient Chinese compass point: 30°
Mnemonic
Charlie Chaplin (ch) finds a very ugly (丑) ox (丑) in the outhouse (ou3) and decides to destroy it with a cleaver (刀) because it is so ugly. He'll soon notice that the ox has been hooked up to a charged capacitor (二) so that anyone trying to damage it will be shocked.
clown / 2nd earthly branch: 1-3 a.m., 12th solar month (6th January to 3rd February), year of the Ox / ancient Chinese compass point: 30°
丑
=
二
+
刀
:
Charlie Chaplin (ch) finds a very ugly (丑) ox (丑) in the outhouse (ou3) and decides to destroy it with a cleaver (刀) because it is so ugly. He'll soon notice that the ox has been hooked up to a charged capacitor (二) so that anyone trying to damage it will be shocked.
二
=
一
:
Mnemonic symbol: a capacitor, because the two strokes remind me of the symbol in electrical drawings. Albert Einstein (Ø) is experimenting with a capacitor (二) in the space station's bathroom (Ø4). He finds that it's uncomfortable to discharge a capacitor using two flutes (一).
knife / blade / single-edged sword / cutlass / CL:把[ba3] / (slang) dollar (loanword) / classifier for sets of one hundred sheets (of paper) / classifier for knife cuts or stabs
刀
=
㇆
+
丿
:
Mnemonic symbol: 刀 looks like a cleaver (while 刂 looks like a kitchen knife).
Don Quixote (d) serves his good deed of the day in front of the aorta (ao1). In order to feed the people, he uses a plow (㇆) to dig up bananas (丿), and cuts them into slices with a broad cleaver (刀).
to turn / to twist / to wring / to sprain / to swing one's hips
扭
=
丑
+
扌
:
An ugly ox (丑) is charging at Nefertiti (ni) in the outhouse (ou3), but Nefertiti just swings her hips (扭) and turns him around (扭) using a toy claw (扌).
羞
=
丑
+
羊
:
Marie Curie (xi) arranged a blind date for two friends in front of the outhouse (ou1). The two friends are an ox (丑) and a sheep (羊). As they see each other for the first time, both are very shy (羞).
to turn / to wrench / button / nu (Greek letter Νν)
纽
=
丑
+
纟
:
The ugly ox (丑) complained about his itching belly button (纽) in front of Nefertiti (ni) in the outhouse (ou3). Promptly Nefertiti turns (纽) him around and finds that there is a silk worm (纟) looking out of his belly button (纽), which she pulls out with a wrench (纽).
衰
=
丑
+
衣
:
Sheldon Shrimp (shu) is feeling very awkward in front of the airplane (ai1). He is on a date with an ox (丑), but the oxen's kilt (衣) is so old and feeble (衰) that it is falling apart.
Don't spread abroad the shame of the family, don't believe rumors lightly. (idiom) / Don't wash your dirty linen in public, don't listen to others' gossip.