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).
prefecture / (old) province / (old) administrative division / state (e.g. of US) / oblast (Russia) / canton (Switzerland)
州
=
丶
+
丷
+
川
:
Mnemonic symbol: the red cotton tree, as it is the official flower of 广州 (Guangzhou). A new river (川) formed spontaneously in front of the outhouse (ou1), and James II of England (zh) was barely able to climb on a red cotton tree (州). Other animals are happy about this development: a mean crocodile (丷) is floating on a petal leaf (丶) towards the red cotton tree.
岛
=
乌
+
山
:
Don Quixote (d) is trapped on a remote island (岛) inside of the aortas (ao3). The only animal on the island is a black crow (乌), and Don Quixote is chasing it with a fork (山) round and round the island, trying to catch it.