muscle / tendon / veins visible under the skin / sth resembling tendons or veins (e.g. fiber in a vegetable)
筋
=
⺮
+
肋
:
Joan of Arc (ji) trained so much that her muscles (筋) burst her harness in front of the encampment ((e)n1). To cover her ribs (肋) she makes a larger armor out of bamboo sticks (⺮).
to fight / to struggle / to condemn / to censure / to contend / to put together / coming together
斗
=
⺀
+
十
:
Mnemonic symbol: a 斗牛士 (dou4 niu2 shi4) is a matador, who will represent 斗 when used as component.
The matador (斗) and Don Quixote (d) are fighting (斗) in the outhouse's bathroom (ou4) about who may use the bathroom next. The matador yields a holy cross (十) as a weapon, while Don Quixote (d) wisely chose a blossom (⺀) to cushion the crosses' blows.
云
=
二
+
厶
:
Yu the Great (yu) had a little accident in the encampment's kitchen ((e)n2). She blew up her capacitor (二), and now there's smoke (云) everywhere. To be able to breathe, she puts on her fake nose (厶).