斋

亝

zha̅i = zh + ai1

old variant of 齋|斋[zhai1]

斋

齋

zha̅i = zh + ai1

to fast or abstain from meat, wine etc / vegetarian diet / study room / building / to give alms (to a monk)

斋 character breakdown

斋
- 文
  - 乂
    - 丿
    - ㇏
  - 亠
    - 一
    - 丶
- 而
  - 丆
    - 一
    - 丿
  - 𦉫

文

wén = w + (e)n2

language / culture / writing / formal / literary / gentle / (old) classifier for coins / Kangxi radical 67

文 = 乂 + 亠 : Mnemonic symbol: a thick book.

Willy Walrus (w) wants to cook in the encampment's kitchen ((e)n2). The recipe book (文) is extremely greasy and Willy doesn't want it to touch anything, nor touch it. That's why he puts it into a beret (亠) so that it doesn't touch the floor, and uses pliers (乂) to turn the pages.

而

ér = Ø + Ø2

and / as well as / and so / but (not) / yet (not) / (indicates causal relation) / (indicates change of state) / (indicates contrast)

而 = 𦉫 + 丆 : A comb. Albert Einstein is getting ready to go out just inside the entrance of the space station. He put up some loud music on the stereo and tries to comb his hair with his comb and the help of a wind wheel.