搜

so̅u = s + ou1

to search

搜 = 叟 + 扌 : The old gentleman (叟) wants to enter the outhouse. In front of the outhouse (ou1) he has to undergo a security check, and Socrates (s) searches (搜) his belongings using a toy claw (扌).

搜 character breakdown

搜
- 叟
  - 支
    - 十
      - 一
      - 丨
    - 又
      - ㇏
      - ㇇
  - 臼
- 扌
  - 亅
  - 二
    - 一

叟

sǒu = s + ou3

old gentleman / old man

叟 = 支 + 臼 : Socrates (s) is cooking with the old gentleman (叟) in the outhouse (ou3). They use mortars (臼) to process branches (支) which they want to use to cook a soup.

扌

shǒu = sh + ou3

"hand" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 64), occurring in 提, 把, 打 etc

扌 = 二 + 亅 : Mnemonic symbol: a toy claw.