bow string / string of musical instrument / watchspring / chord (segment of curve) / hypotenuse / CL:根[gen1]
弦
=
弓
+
玄
:
Marie Curie (xi) is getting trapped by black lava (玄) in the anthill's kitchen (an2) and all she has is a composite bow (弓). She plucks the string (弦) of her bow so that the chord (弦) resonates with the lava, causing it to stop its flow.
and / as well as / and so / but (not) / yet (not) / (indicates causal relation) / (indicates change of state) / (indicates contrast)
而
=
𦉫
+
丆
:
A comb. Albert Einstein is getting ready to go out just inside the entrance of the space station. He put up some loud music on the stereo and tries to comb his hair with his comb and the help of a wind wheel.
drum / CL:通[tong4],面[mian4] / to drum / to strike / to rouse / to bulge / to swell
鼓
=
壴
+
支
:
Gitta Giraffe (gu) is beating her drums in the space station (Ø3). She is beating an archaic drum (壴) and a modern snare drum (鼓) using a twig (支).
(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5]) / him / her / it
之
=
丶
+
Z
:
Mnemonic symbol: Sooo sleepy... "zZz" (the character looks like a "Z"). James II of England (zh) fell asleep in front of the space station (Ø1). He sleeps on a big petal leaf (丶), making loud "zZz" (之) sounds.