Pinyin initial: "tu"

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

Mnemonics for tu

Tu is for Tommy Turtle.

Characters with tu

图
圖
tú = tu + Ø2
diagram / picture / drawing / chart / map / CL:張|张[zhang1] / to plan / to scheme / to attempt / to pursue / to seek
图 = 冬 + 囗 : Tommy Turtle (tu) has been working a lot on a new business model, and he drew a scheme (图) just inside the entrance of the space station (Ø2). It involves importing udon noodles (冬) to the space station in huge crates (囗). He already ordered the first crate full of udon noodles, which is standing next to him and his flow chart.
妥
tuǒ = tu + o3
suitable / adequate / ready / settled
妥 = 女 + 爫 : Mnemonic symbol: someone having Tourette's syndrome (妥 tuo3 瑞 rui4 症 zheng4).

Tommy Turtle (tu) got Tourette's syndrome (妥) and yells at Bessie Coleman (女) that she should shave to be adequate (妥). Bessie quietly complies, pulls out an electric razor (爫) and starts to shave.
推
tui̅ = tu + ei1
to push / to cut / to refuse / to reject / to decline / to shirk (responsibility) / to put off / to delay / to push forward / to nominate / to elect / massage
推 = 扌 + 隹 : Tommy Turtle is very romantic and proposes to the sparrow in front of the Eiffel Tower. He holds the little box with the ring up to the sparrow with a toy claw, but sadly, the sparrow refuses and rejects to take it.
统
統
tǒng = tu + (e)ng3
to gather / to unite / to unify / whole
统 = 充 + 纟 : The president (统) wants to unite (统) the country, so he sets up free mobile phone chargers (充) for everyone inside of the engine ((e)ng3). As soon as he plugged in the first few chargers there are already a silk worm (纟) and Tommy Turtle (tu) peacefully sitting next to each other to charge their phones.
铜
銅
tóng = tu + (e)ng2
copper (chemistry) / see also 紅銅|红铜[hong2 tong2] / CL:塊|块[kuai4]
铜 = 同 + 钅 : Tommy Turtle (tu) runs a copper (铜) mine in the engine's kitchen ((e)ng2). He managed to force two twins (同) to work for him and mine the copper using golden harpoons (钅).
唾
tuò = tu + o4
saliva / to spit
唾 = 口 + 垂 : Tommy Turtle (tu) sees many tasty mandarins (口) hang on the weeping willow (垂) in the observatory's bathroom (o4), but they are all hanging too high. Nevertheless, they make his saliva (唾) run in streams. He even tries to spit (唾) at them to make them fall down.
甬
tǒng = tu + (e)ng3
variant of 桶[tong3], bucket / (classifier) cubic dry measure (5 pecks 五斗, approx half-liter)
通
to̅ng = tu + (e)ng1
to go through / to know well / (suffix) expert / to connect / to communicate / open / to clear / classifier for letters, telegrams, phone calls etc
通 = 甬 + 辶 : In front of the engine a pile of yongzhong bells were blocking the way. Tommy Turtle attended to the matter and cleared the way. He lined the bells up to two lines, put on his gladiator sandals and now marches right through this path screened by walls on two sides like a roman general.
通
tòng = tu + (e)ng4
classifier for an activity, taken in its entirety (tirade of abuse, stint of music playing, bout of drinking etc)
痛
tòng = tu + (e)ng4
ache / pain / sorrow / deeply / thoroughly
痛 = 甬 + 疒 : Tommy Turtle has a terrible disease. In engine's bathroom, he discovered by looking into a mirror that he has a very colorful rash. He also has a terrible headache, just as if someone were to let yongzhong bells ring right next to his head.
桶
tǒng = tu + (e)ng3
bucket / (trash) can / barrel (of oil etc) / CL:個|个[ge4],隻|只[zhi1]
桶 = 木 + 甬 : engine's fire alarm went off and the yongzhong bells (甬) are ringing very loudly. Inside of the engine ((e)ng3) a Christmas tree (木) is on fire, and Tommy Turtle (tu) is helping to quench the fire by spilling water on it using a wooden bucket (桶).
捅
tǒng = tu + (e)ng3
to stab / to poke / to prod / to nudge / to disclose
拖
tuo̅ = tu + o1
to drag / to tow / to trail / to hang down / to mop (the floor) / to delay / to drag on
拖 = 㐌 + 扌 : Tommy Turtle (tu) has to mop (拖) the floor in front of the observatory (o1) but he's just procrastinating (拖). The savage (㐌) even has to drag (拖) him in front of the castle using a toy claw (扌).
拖
拕
tuo̅ = tu + o1
variant of 拖[tuo1]
乇
tuo̅ = tu + o1
archaic variant of 托[tuo1]
托
託
tuo̅ = tu + o1
to trust / to entrust / to be entrusted with / to act as trustee
托 = 乇 + 扌 : Tommy Turtle has been entrusted with caring for a blade of grass. In front of the observatory he's very careful that nothing comes into contact with the blade and so holds it up using a toy claw.
托
tuo̅ = tu + o1
prop / support (for weight) / rest (e.g. arm rest) / thanks to / to hold in one's hand / to support in one's palm / to give / to base / to commit / to set / torr (unit of pressure)
托 = 乇 + 扌 : Tommy Turtle has been entrusted with caring for a blade of grass. In front of the observatory he's very careful that nothing comes into contact with the blade and so holds it up using a toy claw.
彖
tuàn = tu + an4
to foretell the future using the trigrams of the Book of Changes 易經|易经
彖 = 𧰨 + 彑 : Tommy Turtle (tu) is using the Book of Changes to foretell the future (彖) in the anthill's bathroom (an4). It says that he will very soon have a wet snout (彑) and indeed, just seconds later a very wet (but friendly) caterpillar (𧰨) falls on his head.
氽
tǔn = tu + (e)n3
to float / to deep-fry
氽 = 人 + 水 : Tommy Turtle is floating in a water fountain in the encampment. Neanderthal Man is floating on the stream of water supported by Tommy Turtle.
凸
tu̅ = tu + Ø1
to stick out / protruding / convex / male (connector etc) / Taiwan pr. [tu2]
Tommy Turtle (tu) is installing a convex (凸) lens to the outer hull of the space station (Ø1). The lens is so convex that Tommy Turtle is unable to embrace it with his arms.