南
=
十
+
冂
+
丷
+
干
:
Mnemonic symbol: a palm tree (palms are only found in the south)
南
=
十
+
冂
+
丷
+
干
:
Napoleon and the mean crocodile met in the anthill's kitchen to discuss a secret plan. The mean crocodile found a map which leads to a treasure of dried fruits. Napoleon and the mean crocodile agree to follow the map and claim the dried fruits, but each of them has his own secret agenda: Napoleon wants to claim the land and put up his big cross, and the crocodile just wants to relax under a palm tree.
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.
乡
=
幺
+
丿
:
Marie Curie's tractor got stuck in a pile of bananas in front of the anglepod, with the wheels spinning helplessly. Her last hope is that she'll be able to free the tractor by pushing aces under the wheels, so that she can bring the tractor back to her hometown.