由

yóu = y + ou2

to follow / from / because of / due to / by / via / through / (before a noun and a verb) it is for ... to ...

由 = 丨 + 曰 : Mnemonic symbol: 自由古巴， a cuba libre. The character 由 itself even looks like a cuba libre.

Maud Younger (y) is taking part in a charity auction in the outhouse's kitchen (ou2). She is auctioning the dinosaur bone (丨) next to her and is speaking into a microphone (曰). In the other hand she is holding a cuba libre (由), and she is already quite drunk.

由

yóu = y + ou2

to follow / from / because of; due to / by; via; through / (before a noun and a verb) it is for ... to ...

由 character breakdown

由
- 丨
- 曰
  - 一
  - 囗

丨

gǔn = gu + (e)n3

radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 2)

Mnemonic symbol: a dinosaur bone. Gitta Giraffe (gu-) found a gorgeous dinosaur bone (丨) in the encampment's living room ((e)n3).

丨

shù = shu + Ø4

vertical stroke (in Chinese characters), referred to as 豎筆|竖笔[shu4 bi3]

Mnemonic symbol: a dinosaur bone. Sheldon Shrimp (shu) found a gorgeous dinosaur bone (丨) in the space station's bathroom (Ø4) and is cracking it open to eat its bone marrow.

曰

yue̅ = yu + e1

to speak / to say

曰 = 囗 + 一 : Mnemonic symbol: a microphone.

Yu the Great (yu) is selling flutes (一) in front of the elevator (e1). He has a whole box (囗) of them, and he's advertising them by using a microphone (曰).