Pinyin initial: "ku"

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

Mnemonics for ku

K is for Karl Koala.

Characters with ku

困
睏
kùn = ku + (e)n4
sleepy / tired
困 = 囗 + 木 : Mnemonic symbol: a sleeping bag.

Karl Koala has been putting Christmas trees into boxes all day, and now he is very tired. He climbs one of the Christmas trees he already put into a box, slips into his sleeping bag and falls asleep on the tree.
困 = 囗 + 木 : New mnemonic symbol to avoid confusion with 夗: sleeping pills.
困
kùn = ku + (e)n4
to trap / to surround / hard-pressed / stranded / destitute
困 = 囗 + 木 : New mnemonic symbol to avoid confusion with 夗: sleeping pills.
困 = 囗 + 木 : Mnemonic symbol: a sleeping bag.

Karl Koala has been putting Christmas trees into boxes all day, and now he is very tired. He climbs one of the Christmas trees he already put into a box, slips into his sleeping bag and falls asleep on the tree.
枯
ku̅ = ku + Ø1
dried up
枯 = 古 + 木 : Karl Koala (ku) is exploring a cloister (古) which appeared in front of the space station (Ø1). In the cloister he finds a Christmas tree (木), but it is stone old (古) and already extremely dried up (枯).
哭
ku̅ = ku + Ø1
to cry / to weep
哭 = 吅 + 犬 : Karl Koala (ku) played a trick on the Saint Bernard dog (犬) in front of the space station (Ø1). While the dog was sleeping, Karl put two mandarins (吅) on his eyes and when the dog woke up, he thought he went blind and started to cry (哭) like a baby.
哭
ku̅ = ku + Ø1
to cry; to weep
旷
曠
kuàng = ku + ang4
to neglect / to skip (class or work) / to waste (time) / vast / loose-fitting
旷 = 广 + 日 : The sun (日) is lecturing Karl Koala (ku) in the anglepod's bathroom (ang4), but Karl Koala rather skips class (旷) by hiding under a wide (旷) parachute (广) and playing video games in his hideout.
库
庫
kù = ku + Ø4
warehouse / storehouse / (file) library
库 = 广 + 车 : Karl Koala (ku) ordered a new cabriolet (车), and it's going to be delivered to his garage (库) in the space station's bathroom (Ø4). The new cabriolet is being thrown off suspended from a parachute (广), but unfortunately it hits the garage with Karl's old car and smashes it.
矿
礦
kuàng = ku + ang4
ore / mine
矿 = 广 + 石 : Karl Koala (ku) got a new job at the coal mine (矿) in the anglepod's bathroom (ang4). The entrance to the tunnel lies quite high, so every time Karl brings out another coal stone (石) he attaches it to a small parachute (广) and lets it fly down to the floor.
矿
鑛
kuàng = ku + ang4
variant of 礦|矿[kuang4]
矿 = 广 + 石 : Karl Koala (ku) got a new job at the coal mine (矿) in the anglepod's bathroom (ang4). The entrance to the tunnel lies quite high, so every time Karl brings out another coal stone (石) he attaches it to a small parachute (广) and lets it fly down to the floor.
空
ko̅ng = ku + (e)ng1
empty / air / sky / in vain
空 = 工 + 穴 : In front of the engine, Karl Koala found some very special cave paintings. Using steel beams he constructs a protective cover. He also installs air conditioning to make the best environment possible to preserve the cave paintings.
空 = 工 + 穴 : Mnemonic symbol: an air conditioner
空
kòng = ku + (e)ng4
to empty / vacant / unoccupied / space / leisure / free time
窥
窺
kui̅ = ku + ei1
to peep / to pry into
窥 = 穴 + 规 : Following his compass (规) looking for cave paintings (穴), Karl Koala (ku) arrived at the front of the Eiffel Tower (ei1). He peeks (窥) at every small scratch of the stainless steel base without ever realizing at what magnificent building he has arrived.
窥
闚
kui̅ = ku + ei1
variant of 窺|窥[kui1]
孔
kǒng = ku + (e)ng3
hole / CL:個|个[ge4] / classifier for cave dwellings
孔 = 乚 + 孑 : Karl Koala (ku) created one 孔 cave dwelling by digging a hole (孔) into one of the engine's ((e)ng3) boulders using a shovel (乚). Unfortunately there are many mosquitoes (孑) and Karl tries to kill them using the shovel.
孔
kǒng = ku + (e)ng3
surname Kong
孔 = 乚 + 孑 : Karl Koala (ku) created one 孔 cave dwelling by digging a hole (孔) into one of the engine's ((e)ng3) boulders using a shovel (乚). Unfortunately there are many mosquitoes (孑) and Karl tries to kill them using the shovel.
会
會
kuài = ku + ai4
to balance an account / accounting / accountant
会
會
kuài = ku + ai4
to balance an account / accountancy / accounting
适
kuò = ku + o4
see 李适[Li3 Kuo4]
圣
ku̅ = ku + Ø1
to dig
况
況
kuàng = ku + ang4
moreover / situation
况 = 兄 + 冫 : Karl Koala (ku) and Apollo (兄) kind of have a situation (况) in the anglepod's bathroom (ang4). When Karl was using the bathroom Apollo entered, slipped on a popsicle (冫) and bumped into Karl so that now both are stuck in the toilets head down.