日Pictograph · 象形sun, dayひ・か · ニチ・ジツParts: 日 (one piece)
ORIGIN · 字源The sun, drawn as a circle and later squared off.
MEMORY HOOK · just for funA window full of sunlight.
WORDS日本にほんJapan
毎日まいにちevery day
本Indicator · 指事book, originもと · ホンParts: 木 + a mark
ORIGIN · 字源A tree 木 with a mark at its base: the root, the origin.
MEMORY HOOK · just for funEvery book starts at the root.
人Pictograph · 象形personひと · ジン・ニンParts: 人 (one piece)
ORIGIN · 字源Drawn from a person seen from the side.
MEMORY HOOK · just for funTwo legs, out for a walk.
WORDS日本人にほんじんJapanese person
一人ひとりone person, alone
山Pictograph · 象形mountainやま · サンParts: 山 (one piece)
ORIGIN · 字源A row of peaks.
MEMORY HOOK · just for funThe middle one is the tallest.
WORDS山やまmountain
富士山ふじさんMt. Fuji
川Pictograph · 象形riverかわ · センParts: 川 (one piece)
ORIGIN · 字源Water flowing between banks.
MEMORY HOOK · just for funThree lines of current.
森Compound idea · 会意forestもり · シンParts: 木 + 木 + 木
ORIGIN · 字源Three trees together.
MEMORY HOOK · just for funThree trees: you’re deep in the woods.
休Compound idea · 会意restやす(む) · キュウParts: 亻 + 木
ORIGIN · 字源A person 亻 beside a tree 木.
MEMORY HOOK · just for funLean on a tree and take a break.
WORDS休みやすみholiday, break
休日きゅうじつday off
木Pictograph · 象形treeき · モク・ボクParts: 木 (one piece)
ORIGIN · 字源A tree with branches above and roots below.
MEMORY HOOK · just for funArms up, roots down.
WORDS木きtree
木よう日もくようびThursday