to lower / to decrease / to reduce / to subtract / to diminish
减
=
冫
+
咸
:
Joan of Arc (ji) found that there's a giant popsicle (冫) obstructing the way to the bar inside of the anthill (an3). To clear the way, she reduces (减) the size of the popsicle by scattering salt (咸) all over it.
pit / stone / nucleus / nuclear / to examine / to check / to verify
核
=
亥
+
木
:
Hamlet (h) is unpacking the presents he found under the Christmas tree (木) in the elevator's kitchen (e2). He found lots of walnuts (核), but he doesn't know whether there are kernels or stones (核) inside. Fortunately he also unpacked a boar (亥) which sniffs at the walnuts and, after the careful examination (核), tells Hamlet what's inside.
核
=
亥
+
木
:
Hamlet (h) is unpacking the presents he found under the Christmas tree (木) in the elevator's kitchen (e2). He found lots of walnuts (核), but he doesn't know whether there are kernels or stones (核) inside. Fortunately he also unpacked a boar (亥) which sniffs at the walnuts and, after the careful examination (核), tells Hamlet what's inside.