贪

ta̅n = t + an1

to have a voracious desire for / to covet / greedy / corrupt

贪 = 今 + 贝 : The crab (贝) is so greedy (贪) that it rented out its shell to Tecumseh (t) to live in in front of the anthill (an1). It can't wait for the first day of the month to appear on its rip-off calendar (今) so that it can go to collect the rent.

贪 character breakdown

贪
- 今
  - 亼
    - 一
    - 人
      - 丿
      - ㇏
  - 亽
    - 丶
    - 人
      - 丿
      - ㇏
  - ㇇
- 贝
  - 人
    - 丿
    - ㇏
  - 冂
    - 丨
    - ㇆
      - 一
      - 亅
  - ⺆
    - 丿
    - ㇆
      - 一
      - 亅

今

ji̅n = ji + (e)n1

now / the present time / current / contemporary / this (day, year etc)

今 = 亽 + ㇇ : A rip off calendar showing today's date: 今

今 = 亽 + ㇇ : Joan of Arc has changed into half-duck half-human being and lives in a tipi in front of the encampment. With her beak, she shows a rip off calender with the date of Armageddon: today.

贝

貝

bèi = b + ei4

cowrie / shellfish / currency (archaic)

贝 = ⺆ + 人 : Mnemonic symbol: a crab. In the Eiffel Tower's bathroom (ei4), the Neanderthal man (人) and Beelzebub (b) are fighting a crab with staplers (⺆), but because the Neanderthal man (人) can't handle the stapler he accidentally staples himself in the forehead.