不
=
丆
+
卜
:
Bruno Bear (bu) is setting up a wind wheel (丆) with a voodoo staff (卜) in the space station's bathroom (Ø4). He also puts a "forbidden" sign (mnemonic symbol for 不) on it, to make clear that it may not (不) be stopped.
straight / upright / proper / main / principal / to correct / to rectify / exactly / just (at that time) / right (in that place) / (math.) positive
正
=
一
+
止
:
Mnemonic symbol: a stick-figure with straight lines. James II of England (zh) really has to use the engine's bathroom ((e)ng4), but there's a stick-figure (正) blocking the stalls with a barrier (止). The stick-figure measures with a flute (一) whether James is tall enough to go. James stands very straight (正) to make himself as tall as possible.
to be / to act as / manage / withstand / when / during / ought / should / match equally / equal / same / obstruct / just at (a time or place) / on the spot / right / just at
当
=
小
+
彐
:
This character looks like an angry pitbull. 小 forms the eyes and maybe nose, and 彐 are the dangerous teeth.
当
=
小
+
彐
:
Don Quixote opposes a dangerous pit bull in front of the anglepod, and he tries to calm him down with a daisy.
竞
=
兄
+
立
:
Apollo (兄) and Joan of Arc (ji) are competing (竞) in the engine's bathroom ((e)ng4). Each of them tries to smash as many vases (立) as fast as possible.
to strive for / to vie for / to argue or debate / deficient or lacking (dialect) / how or what (literary)
争
=
⺈
+
肀
:
Mnemonic symbol: The grim reaper, as 争 is often used in words involving war (...战争). In front of the engine ((e)ng1), the grim reaper (争) marks his next victims in passing. With a crayon (肀) he draws big "X"s on the crane (⺈) and James II of England (zh).