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.
色
=
⺈
+
巴
:
In the airplane, Sherlock Holmes watches the crane licking a very tasty lollipop. He wants to have it, so he challenges the crane for it. The crane agrees to give him the lollipop if he can beat him in a dice game.