Pinyin initial: "s"

The Pinyin initial "s" is used in the first half of Pinyin syllables. In MandarinBanana's mnemonic system, "s" belongs to the group of Pinyin initials which are represented in mnemonics by men. You can visit the Pinyin index to see all Pinyin syllables from this mnemonic group, or to see all Pinyin syllables "s" can appear in.

Mnemonics for s

Socrates.

Characters with s

umbrella / parasol / CL:把[ba3]

= + + : Socrates abolished philosophy and converted to starting a religion in the anthill. He built a large totem pole out of a parasol held by Neanderthal Man, who stands on a mean crocodile, which stands on a cross. Socrates himself holds two umbrellas and preaches to the people to prepare for the end of days, when the heaven will fall down on earth.
silk / thread / trace / (cuisine) shreds or julienne strips / CL:條|条[tiao2] / classifier: a thread (of cloud, smoke etc), a bit, an iota, a hint (of sth) etc

= + : Socrates locked himself out of the space station! To call the other astronauts for help, he attaches some silk cloth to a flute and waves it like a flag.
to sweep

= + : Socrates (s) is sweeping the aorta (ao3) using a broom (扫). There are big pig snouts (彐) lying around on the floor which he picks up using a toy claw (扌) because they are too big to sweep (扫).
broom
"silk" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 120), occurring in 紅|红[hong2], 綠|绿[lü4], 累[lei4] etc / also pr. [mi4]

A silk worm.
to lose sth abstract but important (courage, authority, one's life etc) / to be bereaved of (one's spouse etc) / to die / disappointed / discouraged

= + + 𧘇 : The mean crocodile (丷) has been defeated (丧) and has to flee (丧) anglepod's bathroom (ang4). He has been defeated by Socrates (s) who stands on a step ladder (𧘇) wielding a huge cross (十).
mourning / funeral / (old) corpse
Bodhisattva / surname Sa

= + + : In his quest to obtain bodhicitta (萨) Socrates (s) is manufacturing pizzas (萨) out of sheets of artificial lawn (艹) in the ashram's bathroom (a4). The pizzas are passing by on an assembly belt (产) and at the other end they are devoured by the pope (阝).
stingy

= + + : Mnemonic symbol: stingray.

The stingy stingray (啬) and the mean crocodile (丷) want to return (回) to the river using the elevator's toilet (e4), but lots of dirt (土) is blocking their way. They ask the elevator's boss Socrates (s) for help, but he doesn't make his hands dirty so he starts a boring monologue about living as an expat. As the stingray and the crocodile realize he won't help them they start crying out loudly.
to compete / competition / match / to surpass / better than / superior to / to excel

= + + + : Socrates (s) and the crab (贝) are competing in a competition (赛) in the airplane's bathroom (ai4). The competition is about stacking wells (井) as high as possible. After time's up, Socrates is the clear winner. He climbs the winner's pedestal (丌) and receives a honorary PhD and thus a graduation cap (宀).
trouble / disturbance / rumpus / flirty / coquettish / abbr. for 離騷|离骚[Li2 Sao1] / literary writings / smell of urine / foul smell / male (animal) (dialect)

= + : Socrates (s) is riding a unicorn (马) in front of the aorta (ao1), but the unicorn is constantly complaining (骚) that Socrates stinks (骚) and is flea- (蚤) infected.
(bound form) to cough

= + : Socrates (s) made a mandarin (口) drink in the outhouse's bathroom (ou4) and filled it in a drinking bottle (欶), but he did it very sloppy: there are still big pieces of and even whole mandarins in the drink. As he sucks and sucks at the bottle finally he sucks in a whole mandarin and coughs (嗽) without end.
three (banker's anti-fraud numeral)
a type of standing harp, smaller than konghou 箜篌, with 5-25 strings

= + : Socrates (s) is playing a small standing harp (瑟) to charm Khubilai Khan (必) in the elevator's bathroom (e4). He even put on a jewel necklace (玨) to be more charming.
succession (to a title) / to inherit / continuing (a tradition) / posterity
amphibious animal with one horn
archaic variant of 澀|涩[se4]
astringent / tart / acerbity / unsmooth / rough (surface) / hard to understand / obscure
nasal mucus
river in Shandong