Pinyin "xian2"
In MandarinBanana's mnemonic system, the Pinyin syllable "xian2" is split up into two parts: "xi" and "an2". You can visit the Pinyin index to see how other Pinyin syllables are split up into initials and finals.
Mnemonics for Pinyin initial "xi"
Xi is for Marie Curie.
Alternative mnemonic for xi: Xi Shi (西施), one of the renowned Four Beauties of ancient China.
Mnemonics for Pinyin final "an2"
In the anthill's kitchen.
Characters pronounced xian2
bow string / string of musical instrument / watchspring / chord (segment of curve) / hypotenuse / CL:根[gen1]
idle / unoccupied / leisure
闲
=
木
+
门
:
In her free time (闲) Marie Curie (xi) likes to sit in the anthill's kitchen (an2) to watch her trap door (门). She installed it right under a Christmas tree (木) so whenever someone puts a present under the Christmas tree, shortly afterwards it will fall through the trap door in Marie's secret chamber.
enclosure / (variant of 閒|闲[xian2]) idle / unoccupied / leisure
闲
=
木
+
门
:
In her free time (闲) Marie Curie (xi) likes to sit in the anthill's kitchen (an2) to watch her trap door (门). She installed it right under a Christmas tree (木) so whenever someone puts a present under the Christmas tree, shortly afterwards it will fall through the trap door in Marie's secret chamber.
bit (of a bridle) / to hold in the mouth / to harbor (feelings) / to link / to accept / rank / title
衔
=
行
+
钅
:
When Marie Curie (xi) goes to war she always puts on her seven-league boots (行) in the anthill's kitchen (an2), puts her golden harpoon (钅) into her mouth like the bit of a bridle (衔) and gets going. For being so fast at the battle field she has been awarded a very high rank (衔) and a special title (衔).
worthy or virtuous person / honorific used for a person of the same or a younger generation
to dislike / suspicion / resentment / enmity / abbr. for 嫌犯[xian2 fan4], criminal suspect