天
=
一
+
大
:
Mnemonic symbol: an angel from heaven. Mother Teresa (ti) programmed a robot (大) to play a flute duet together with her in front of the anthill (an1). As they play their flutes (一) an angel (mnemonic symbol for 天) hears their heavenly tune and descends from heaven (天) to listen to them.
down / downwards / below / lower / later / next (week etc) / second (of two parts) / to decline / to go down / to arrive at (a decision, conclusion etc) / measure word to show the frequency of an action
下
=
一
+
卜
:
Mnemonic symbol: from the up/down logic, and a little bit the shape of the character, a ladder.
Xi Shi (xi) is on a retreat in the ashram. Using a voodoo staff (卜), she divined that next (下) week she'll have to play the flute (一) sixteen hours per day. Because she hates playing the flute, she climbs over the ashram's bathroom (a4) wall using a ladder (下) to escape.
太
=
丶
+
大
:
Mnemonic symbol: from 太后 [tai4 hou4], the empress dowager. The empress dowager prepares for her reign in the airplane's bathroom (ai4) and has a big robot (大) as well as Tecumseh (t) fan her fresh air with petal leaves (丶).
平
=
丷
+
干
:
Mnemonic symbol: a pan (平底锅) as it has a very flat and level surface.
Pocahontas (pi) is fighting with a crocodile (丷) just inside the engine's kitchen ((e)ng2). She's throwing so many dried fruits (干) at it that it's totally flat (平) soon. She gives it a last blow striking with a frying pan (平).
平
=
丷
+
干
:
Mnemonic symbol: a pan (平底锅) as it has a very flat and level surface.
Pocahontas (pi) is fighting with a crocodile (丷) just inside the engine's kitchen ((e)ng2). She's throwing so many dried fruits (干) at it that it's totally flat (平) soon. She gives it a last blow striking with a frying pan (平).