染

rǎn = r + an3

to dye / to catch (a disease) / to acquire (bad habits etc) / to contaminate / to add color washes to a painting

染 = 木 + 氿 : Robinson Crusoe (r) finds that there is a small mountain spring (氿) in the anthill (an3). Unfortunately it is contaminated (染) by a plastic Christmas tree (木) standing next to it. The BPA and dye from the Christmas tree leak into the water and change the creek's color (染).

染 character breakdown

染
- 木
  - 八
    - 丿
    - ㇏
  - 十
    - 一
    - 丨
- 氿
  - 九
    - 一
    - 丿
    - 乚
  - 氵
    - ⺀
      - 丶
    - ㇀

木

mù = mu + Ø4

(bound form) tree / (bound form) wood / unresponsive; numb; wooden

木 = 八 + 十 : Mnemonic symbol: a Christmas tree.

Malte Monkey (mu) is setting up a Christmas tree (木) in the bathroom of the space station (Ø4). He decorates the tree with eight-balls (八) and puts a holy cross (十) at the top of the tree.

氿

guǐ = gu + ei3

mountain spring

氿 = 九 + 氵 : Gitta Giraffe (gu) is hiking in the Eiffel Tower (ei3). At a small mountain spring (氿) she refills her water bottle (氵). As she takes a sip she instantly falls in love with the fresh water and is on cloud nine (九).