to rise / to flourish / to become popular / to start / to encourage / to get up / (often used in the negative) to permit or allow (dialect) / maybe (dialect)
feeling or desire to do sth / interest in sth / excitement
兴
=
小
+
一
+
八
:
I would say this one looks definitely like a hedgehog, but since there's already a character for hedgehog, let's call this one a sea star.
兴
=
小
+
一
+
八
:
Marie Curie found a sea star attached to a big eight ball in the engine's bathroom. As she is a curious and interested scientist, she wants to investigate the sea star, so she pokes it with a flute and tries to tickle it with a daisy.
衰
=
丑
+
衣
:
Sheldon Shrimp (shu) is feeling very awkward in front of the airplane (ai1). He is on a date with an ox (丑), but the oxen's kilt (衣) is so old and feeble (衰) that it is falling apart.