人煙稀少

人 = 丿 + ㇏ : Mnemonic symbol: Neanderthal Man (人). Robinson Crusoe (r-) is looking for snacks in the encampment's kitchen (-en2) when he suddenly spots Neanderthal Man (人). Neanderthal Man offers him a banana (丿), but Robinson Crusoe doesn't trust the present and pokes it with a finger (㇏).

烟 = 因 + 火 : Maud Younger (y) is giving René Descartes (因) fire (火) for his tobacco (烟) pipe in front of the anthill (an1).

稀 = 希 + 禾 : John Hope the Educator (希) teaches Marie Curie (xi) about a very rare (稀) species of bacteria in front of the space station (Ø1). It only grows in watery (稀) cereals (禾) which are stored in the vacuum, like in outer space.

少 = 丿 + 小 : Mnemonic symbol: 少 looks like a smiley face.

There's a food shortage (少) in the aorta, and Sherlock Holmes (sh) and Smiley (少) are looking for food in the living room (ao3). There's only one banana (丿) left. Soon they'll have to eat the many daisies (小) which are growing there.