人有失手，馬有失蹄

人 = 丿 + ㇏ : Mnemonic symbol: Neanderthal Man (人). Robinson Crusoe (r-) is looking for snacks in the encampment's kitchen (-en2) when he suddenly spots Neanderthal Man (人). Neanderthal Man offers him a banana (丿), but Robinson Crusoe doesn't trust the present and pokes it with a finger (㇏).

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有

yǒu = y + ou3

to have; there is / (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意[you3 yi4] intentional)

Add a new mnemonic for 有 = 𠂇 + 月

有 = 𠂇 + 月 : Mnemonic symbol: confetti.

In an act of revolution, with a pair of scissors (𠂇) Maud Younger (y) is cutting a paper moon (月) into tiny pieces in the outhouse's living room (ou3). There is (有) only confetti (有) left over.

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有

yǒu

失

shi̅

to cause a loss of (decorum, dignity etc) (used in fixed expressions)

失

shi̅ = sh + Ø1

to lose / to miss / to fail

Add a new mnemonic for 失 = 丿 + 夫

Add a new mnemonic for 失 = 𠂉 + 大

失 = 𠂉 + 大 : Sherlock (sh) locked himself out of the space station (Ø1)! He lost (失) his key (𠂉)! After he was floating in front of the space station for an eternity, a robot (大) came by with a lost+found box (失) which contained his lost key.

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失

shi̅

手

shǒu

a slip / miscalculation / unwise move / accidentally / by mistake / to lose control / to be defeated

手

shǒu = sh + ou3

hand / (formal) to hold / person engaged in certain types of work / person skilled in certain types of work / personal(ly) / convenient / classifier for skill / CL:雙|双[shuang1],隻|只[zhi1]

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Mnemonic symbol: a baseball glove. Sherlock Holmes (sh) is trying out his new baseball glove (手) in the outhouse's living room (ou3).

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马

馬

mǎ = m + a3

surname Ma / abbr. for Malaysia 馬來西亞|马来西亚[Ma3 lai2 xi1 ya4]

Add a new mnemonic for 马 = ㇖ + ㇉ + 一

马

馬

mǎ = m + a3

horse / CL:匹[pi3] / horse or cavalry piece in Chinese chess / knight in Western chess