Pinyin initial: "zh"
The Pinyin initial "zh" is used in the first half of Pinyin syllables. In MandarinBanana's mnemonic system, "zh" 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 "zh" can appear in.
Mnemonics for zh
Zh is for James II of England (詹姆斯二世, zhānmǔsī èrshì).
Characters with zh
straight / to straighten / fair and reasonable / frank / straightforward / (indicates continuing motion or action) / vertical / vertical downward stroke in Chinese characters
直
=
十
+
目
+
一
:
Mnemonic symbol: someone straight edge. James II of England (zh) decided to go straight edge (直) in the space station's kitchen (Ø2), and he also decided that this means he won't listen to music anymore. The Eye of Providence (目) promptly plays some music on its flute (一) to tease him, whereupon the James II of England defends himself by holding up a cross (十).
surname Zhi / Zhi (c. 2000 BC), fifth of the legendary Flame Emperors 炎帝[Yan2 di4] descended from Shennong 神農|神农[Shen2 nong2] Farmer God
to stop / to prohibit / until / only
止
=
⺊
+
丨
+
一
:
Mnemonic symbol: a barrier. James II of England (zh) is marking his area in the space station's living room (Ø3) with a big barrier (止), in front of which he sets up his pennant (⺊). He places a soldier left and right to the barrier, armed with a dinosaur bone (丨) and a flute (一) respectively.
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.
location / site / foundation of a building
to call together / to summon / to convene / temple or monastery (used in place names in Inner Mongolia)
召
=
刀
+
口
:
Mnemonic symbol: an intercom to call everyone together. James II of England (zh) prepares a few mandarins (口) for everyone in the aorta's bathroom (ao4) by cutting them with a cleaver (刀). As he is finished he calls everyone together (召) over the intercom (召) to come over and fetch a piece.
to know / to be aware
知
=
口
+
矢
:
Mnemonic symbol: Francis Bacon is attributed to have stated "scientia potentia est", "knowledge is power". I'll thus represent 知 by Francis Bacon. Francis Bacon (知) and James II of England (zh) are playing darts (矢) in front of the space station (Ø1). Because they lack a dart board they just use a mandarin (口).
classifier for birds and certain animals, one of a pair, some utensils, vessels etc
only / merely / just / but
只
=
八
+
口
:
Mnemonic symbol: this character looks like something (a head?) on two legs. I'll just represent it by a cuttlefish (只). James II of England (zh) has been in the space station (Ø3) as the only (只) one for too long and went mad. He thinks he's holding a mandarin (口), but he's just about to bite into merely (只) an eight ball (八). On the top of his head is a cuttlefish (只) he mistook for a hat.
wisdom / knowledge
智
=
日
+
知
:
In the space station's bathroom (Ø4), the sun (日), Francis Bacon (知) and James II of England (zh) are competing for who's the most knowledgeable of them. They all present each other their smartphones (智能) on which they use apps to determine their IQ (智商). In the end it turns out that they are all retarded (弱智).