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.
to repeat / repetition / again / re- / classifier: layer
重
=
千
+
里
:
Mnemonic symbol (from the shape of the character): this one looks like a space elevator. The two top strokes are the heavens, the two bottom strokes are the earth, and the part in between is the cabin (or climber) of the space elevator.
Chantal Chicken (chu) is working in the engine's kitchen ((e)ng2). Her job is to crush sunflower (里) seeds with a 1 kg weight (千) to get the kernels. Then she has to put the kernels into the cabin of a space elevator (重) to send them to outer space. This repeats (重) again and again day in, day out.
重
=
千
+
里
:
Mnemonic symbol (from the shape of the character): this one looks like a space elevator. The two top strokes are the heavens, the two bottom strokes are the earth, and the part in between is the cabin (or climber) of the space elevator.
Julian Giant Squid (zhu) installed a space elevator (重) in the engine's bathroom ((e)ng4). For the maiden trip, and as a stress test, he loads one thousand (千) one kilogram weights (千) and decorates them with sun flowers (里) to celebrate the occasion.
县
=
且
+
厶
:
Marie Curie (xi) and the county manager of her home county are manufacturing maps of her home county (县) inside of the anthill's bathroom (an4). The county has a very special form which you can reproduce by smashing a fake nose (厶) with a shelf (且).