Pinyin initial: "k"

The Pinyin initial "k" is used in the first half of Pinyin syllables. In MandarinBanana's mnemonic system, "k" belongs to the group of Pinyin initials which are represented in mnemonics by men. You can visit the Pinyin index to see all Pinyin syllables from this mnemonic group, or to see all Pinyin syllables "k" can appear in.

Mnemonics for k

K is for Karl Marx.

Characters with k

楷
kǎi = k + ai3
model / pattern / regular script (calligraphic style)
客
kè = k + e4
customer / visitor / guest
客 = 各 + 宀 : Karl Marx (k) is receiving a visitor in the elevator's bathroom (e4). His guest is wearing a graduation cap (宀) and a dress made of stars (各).
砍
kǎn = k + an3
to chop / to cut down / to throw sth at sb
砍 = 欠 + 石 : Karl Marx (k) chopped down (砍) a huge boulder (石) with his bare hands inside of the anthill (an3) so that the staff can now move the pieces of the boulder. Before he leaves, the anthill's owner throws (砍) an IOU note (欠) after Karl.
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.
考
攷
kǎo = k + ao3
to beat / to hit / variant of 考[kao3] / to inspect / to test / to take an exam
考 = ⺹ + 丂 : Karl Marx (k) has to take an exam (考) in the artoa's living room (ao3). It is very difficult for him because he has to wear a breathing mask (丂) due to the open fire, and he also has to wear a huge crown (⺹) which makes it difficult for him to see the exam papers.
考
kǎo = k + ao3
to check / to verify / to test / to examine / to take an exam / to take an entrance exam for / deceased father
烤
kǎo = k + ao3
to roast / to bake / to broil
烤 = 火 + 考 : Karl Marx (k) participated in a cooking course and today he is taking his final examination (考). In the aorta (ao3) he has to bake (烤) perfect pancakes (烤) over an open fire (火).
看
kàn = k + an4
to see / to look at / to read / to watch / to visit / to call on / to consider / to regard as / to look after / to treat (an illness) / to depend on / to feel (that) / (after verb) to give it a try / Watch out! (for a danger)
看 = 手 + 目 : Karl Marx wants to use anthill's bathroom, but when the Eye of Providence is watching he's not able to, so he uses a big baseball glove to get some privacy.
看
ka̅n = k + an1
to look after / to take care of / to watch / to guard
课
課
kè = k + e4
subject / course / CL:門|门[men2] / class / lesson / CL:堂[tang2],節|节[jie2] / to levy / tax / form of divination
课 = 果 + 讠 : Karl Marx (k) notices an advertising column (讠) in the elevator's bathroom (e4). He decides to teach these capitalists a lesson (课) and throws grapes (果) at the ads, messing them all up. That'll teach them!
岂
豈
kǎi = k + ai3
old variant of 愷|恺[kai3] / old variant of 凱|凯[kai3]
凯
凱
kǎi = k + ai3
surname Kai
凯 = 几 + 岂 : After capitalism has been triumphant (凯) over communism Karl Marx (k) hides under a table (几) in the airplane (ai3) and asks: how can this be (岂)?
凯
凱
kǎi = k + ai3
triumphant / victorious / chi (Greek letter Χχ)
凯 = 几 + 岂 : After capitalism has been triumphant (凯) over communism Karl Marx (k) hides under a table (几) in the airplane (ai3) and asks: how can this be (岂)?
苛
ke̅ = k + e1
severe / exacting
开
開
ka̅i = k + ai1
to open / to start / to turn on / to boil / to write out (a prescription, check, invoice etc) / to operate (a vehicle) / carat (gold) / abbr. for Kelvin, 開爾文|开尔文[Kai1 er3 wen2] / abbr. for 開本|开本[kai1 ben3], book format
开 = 一 + 廾 : A bottle opener. Karl Marx is sitting in front of the airplane, begging for money. He's playing a flute and has his bottle opener ready for the next beer, but unfortunately, he'll be carried away, his hands cuffed, soon.
扣
kòu = k + ou4
to fasten / to button / button / buckle / knot / to arrest / to confiscate / to deduct (money) / discount / to knock / to smash, spike or dunk (a ball) / to cover (with a bowl etc) / (fig.) to tag a label on sb / (Tw) (loanword) code
扣 = 口 + 扌 : Karl Marx (k) manufactures a new button (扣) out of a mandarin (口) in the outhouse's bathroom (ou4). He does so by grapping the mandarin tightly in one hand, and carving out the button out of the peel by rotating a toy claw (扌) around the mandarin with his other hand.
扣
釦
kòu = k + ou4
button
扣 = 口 + 扌 : Karl Marx (k) manufactures a new button (扣) out of a mandarin (口) in the outhouse's bathroom (ou4). He does so by grapping the mandarin tightly in one hand, and carving out the button out of the peel by rotating a toy claw (扌) around the mandarin with his other hand.
扛
káng = k + ang2
to carry on one's shoulder / (fig.) to take on (a burden, duty etc)
扛 = 工 + 扌 : Karl Mark (k) is carrying a steel beam (工) on his shoulder (扛) in the anglepod's kitchen (ang2) and balances the steel beam using a toy claw (扌).
垦
墾
kěn = k + (e)n3
to reclaim (land) / to cultivate
恳
懇
kěn = k + (e)n3
earnest
恳 = 心 + 艮 : Karl Marx (k) is taking his hobby of collecting chewing gums (艮) in the encampment ((e)n3) very sincere (恳). There are chewing gums all around the place! It is as if chewing gums were even stuck to Karl's heart (心).