(name of states and dynasties at several different periods) / surname Qi
齐
=
文
+
丿
+
丨
:
The Queen of Hearts (qi) built a drum and a gong (齐). She made the drum by carving a hole into a big book (文) and spanning a hide over the hole very evenly (齐). The gong also consists of a huge book which has been cast in bronze, and its surface is quite even (齐). She can readily beat the drum using a dinosaur bone (丨), but when she strikes the gong with a banana (丿), the gong doesn't make any sound. The drum is ready, but the gong is not.
neat / even / level with / identical / simultaneous / all together / to even sth out
齐
=
文
+
丿
+
丨
:
The Queen of Hearts (qi) built a drum and a gong (齐). She made the drum by carving a hole into a big book (文) and spanning a hide over the hole very evenly (齐). The gong also consists of a huge book which has been cast in bronze, and its surface is quite even (齐). She can readily beat the drum using a dinosaur bone (丨), but when she strikes the gong with a banana (丿), the gong doesn't make any sound. The drum is ready, but the gong is not.
vertical stroke (in Chinese characters), referred to as 豎筆|竖笔[shu4 bi3]
Mnemonic symbol: a dinosaur bone. Sheldon Shrimp (shu) found a gorgeous dinosaur bone (丨) in the space station's bathroom (Ø4) and is cracking it open to eat its bone marrow.
Willy Walrus (w) wants to cook in the encampment's kitchen ((e)n2). The recipe book (文) is extremely greasy and Willy doesn't want it to touch anything, nor touch it. That's why he puts it into a beret (亠) so that it doesn't touch the floor, and uses pliers (乂) to turn the pages.
剂
=
刂
+
齐
:
Joan of Arc (ji) is preparing a dose (剂) of her medicine in the space station's bathroom (Ø4). Usually she uses a gong as a nice and flat surface to prepare her medicine, but today only the drum is ready (齐). She distributes her medicine evenly and nicely on the flat surface using a kitchen knife (刂).
to crowd in / to cram in / to force others aside / to press / to squeeze / to find (time in one's busy schedule)
挤
=
扌
+
齐
:
Joan of Arc (ji) is busy packing the stuff she'll need for the demonstration she's going to. In the space station (Ø3) she is cramming (挤) a gong and a drum (齐) into her suitcase with a toy claw (扌). She's going to make a lot of noise at the demonstration!
to cross a river / to aid or relieve / to be of help
济
=
氵
+
齐
:
Joan of Arc (ji) accidentally knocked over the only water supply bottle (氵) In the space station's bathroom (Ø4) and now she's in big trouble. She uses the empty bottle as a drum to call for help (济), but it is of no use; she would need a gong instead. Unfortunately the drum is ready, but the gong is not (齐).
History of Qi of the Northern Dynasties, eleventh of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled by Li Baiyao 李百藥|李百药[Li3 Bai3 yao4] in 636 during Tang Dynasty, 50 scrolls
History of Qi of the Southern Dynasties, seventh of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled by Xiao Zixian 蕭子顯|萧子显[Xiao1 Zi3 xian3] in 537 during Liang of the Southern Dynasties 南朝梁[Nan2 chao2 Liang2], 59 scrolls