叟
=
支
+
臼
:
Socrates (s) is cooking with the old gentleman (叟) in the outhouse (ou3). They use mortars (臼) to process branches (支) which they want to use to cook a soup.
to support / to sustain / to erect / to raise / branch / division / to draw money / classifier for rods such as pens and guns, for army divisions and for songs or compositions
支
=
十
+
又
:
Mnemonic symbol: a tree branch. James II of England (zh) has to repair the hull of the space station. His tool is a big cross (十) with one end cushioned with a boxing glove (又), which he is to use as a hammer. As he is floating in front of the space station (Ø1), the only tool to support him is a wooden branch (支) so that he won't float away.
cheating neither old nor young (idiom); treating youngsters and old folk equally scrupulously / Our house offers sincere treatment to all and fair trade to old and young alike.
lit. the old man lost his horse, but it all turned out for the best (idiom) / fig. a blessing in disguise / it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good