三
=
一
+
二
:
Mnemonic symbol: a Cartesian coordinate system with three (三) axes.
Socrates (s-) is performing in front of the anthill (-an1). He created an electrical flute by attaching a large capacitor (二) to the flute (一), so that he can get the attention of all the ants. Moreover, he's balancing on a Cartesian coordinate system (三). Unfortunately, only three (三) ants stop to watch the performance.
fork in road / bifurcation / branch in road, river, mountain range etc / to branch off / to turn off / to diverge / to stray (from the path) / to change the subject / to interrupt / to stagger (times)
岔
=
分
+
山
:
Charlie Chaplin (ch) is conducting a scientific investigation in the ashram's bathroom (a4) in which he sticks a fork (山) into a toilet at different positions and angles and measures with a stopwatch (分) how long it takes a bifurcation (岔) to appear once he flushes the toilet.