函

hán = h + an2

envelope / case / letter

函 = 丂 + 氺 + 凵 : Hamlet (h) is waterboarded in the anthill's kitchen (an2). He is trapped in a metal box (凵) wearing a breathing mask (丂) while being under a continuous stream provided by an aqueduct (氺). He is allowed to send one last letter (函) home, though.

函

圅

hán = h + an2

variant of 函[han2]

函 character breakdown

函
- 丂
  - 一
  - ㇉
- 凵
- 氺
  - 水
    - 丿
    - 亅
    - ㇏
    - ㇇

丂

kǎo = k + ao3

"breath" or "sigh" component in Chinese characters

Mnemonic symbol: a breathing mask.

The air inside of the aorta is so bad that Karl Marx needs a breathing mask to breathe freely.

凵

kǎn = k + an3

receptacle

Mnemonic symbol: receptacle as in wall plug.

Karl Marx (k) wants to recharge his phone in the anthill's living room (an3), but he can't find a receptacle (凵).

氺

shuǐ = shu + ei3

archaic variant of 水[shui3]

氺 = 水 : As archaic symbol for an archaic character I choose the aqueduct.

Characters with 函 as component

涵

hán = h + an2

to contain / to include / culvert

涵 = 氵 + 函 : A few years ago in the anthill's kitchen (an2) Hamlet (h) received a letter (函) which contained (涵) only a bottle of water (氵). It gave him a bad feeling of the things to come.

菡

hàn = h + an4

lotus blossom