政

political / politics / government

政 = 攵 + 正 : As James II of England (zh) became a powerful politician (政) he used his power for many crazy laws. For example, he once ordered a stick figure (正) to tear down the engine's bathroom ((e)ng4) using a sledgehammer (攵).

政 character breakdown

政
- 攵
  - 乂
    - 丿
    - ㇏
  - 𠂉
    - 一
    - 丿
- 正
  - 一
  - 止
    - 一
    - 上
      - 一
      - 丨
      - 二
        
        一
      - ⺊
        
        一
        
        丨
      - 丄
        
        一
        
        丨
    - 丨
    - ⺊
      - 一
      - 丨
    - 丄
      - 一
      - 丨

攵

pu̅ = pu + Ø1

variant of 攴[pu1]

攵 = 𠂉 + 乂 : Mnemonic symbol: the epitome of rapping and tapping is a sledge hammer. Petra pinguin (pu) forgot her key (𠂉) and know she's locked out of the space station (Ø1). At first she tries to open the lock with pliers (乂), but in the end she has no choice but to use the sledge hammer (攵).

正

zhe̅ng = zh + (e)ng1

first month of the lunar year

正

zhèng = zh + (e)ng4

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.