Pinyin "cai2"

In MandarinBanana's mnemonic system, the Pinyin syllable "cai2" is split up into two parts: "c" and "ai2". You can visit the Pinyin index to see how other Pinyin syllables are split up into initials and finals.

Mnemonics for Pinyin initial "c"

C is for the King of Chu.

Mnemonics for Pinyin final "ai2"

In the airplane's kitchen.

Characters pronounced cai2

才
纔
cái = c + ai2
(variant of 才[cai2]) just now / (before an expression of quantity) only
才
cái = c + ai2
ability / talent / sb of a certain type / a capable individual / then and only then / just now / (before an expression of quantity) only
才 = 一 + 亅 + 丿 : Mnemonic symbol: from "ability / talent", the special ability of X-ray vision.

The King of Chu (c) has been bitten by a X-ray tube and has gained the special ability (才) of X-ray vision. In the airplane's kitchen (ai2), he holds a banana (丿) in each hand; through his x-ray vision ability, he is able to see that in one of them there's a crowbar (亅) hidden, in the other one a flute (一).
材
cái = c + ai2
material / timber / ability / aptitude / a capable individual / coffin (old)
材 = 才 + 木 : In the airplane, the King of Chu investigates a Christmas tree with his secret X-ray vision super power. He can see that the material the tree is made out of is not timber; instead, he sees that the tree has been 3D printed.
财
財
cái = c + ai2
money / wealth / riches / property / valuables
财 = 才 + 贝 : The King of Chu found a big money bag in the airplane's kitchen, but he knows that there is no free lunch. Carefully, he scans the content of the bag with his X-ray power vision, and inside the bag, he finds a crab waiting to strike on its prey.
裁
cái = c + ai2
to cut out (as a dress) / to cut / to trim / to reduce / to diminish / to cut back (e.g. on staff) / decision / judgment
裁 = 𢦏 + 衣 : Things are going bad for the King of Chu (c). He opened a kitchen in the airplane (ai2), but his income in the first year was not enough so he had to donate a kidney from which the scar is widely visible (𢦏), also due to the fact that he had to sell all his clothing except for a kilt (衣) which he wears. It was not enough. One day, he actually gets fired (裁) from the airplane's king because he was costing the airplane so much money.