做
JLPT HSK 1

zuò
Left person 亻, right: therefore, reason 故 (If the old 古 (man) strikes 攵 then with a reason) [to strike 攵/攴 = hand 又 with a stick 卜]
The person has a reason to do sth.

	故
JLPT HSK 3

gù
Left: old 古 (image of a tomb stone), right: strike 攵/攴 (hand 又 with a stick 卜)
If the old (man) hits, then intentionally and with a reason.

	居
JLPT HSK 3

jū
Top: buttocks seen from the side 尸, below: old 古 (originally derived from the image of a skull, hence "old"; the idea of a burial mound is also helpful)
Where the buttocks becomes old, he has his residence.

	克
JLPT HSK 4

kè
Top: ten 十, below: older brother 兄 (A big mouth 口 on feet 儿)
(The inferior must leave the battle-field, such as to run away using the legs:) The old 古 gets legs 儿, if it is subdued.

	估
JLPT HSK 4

gū, gù
Left: person 亻, right: old 古 (originally: skull, but here better as image a tomb stone)
A person who is old (and experienced) is good in estimating.

	苦
JLPT HSK 4

kǔ
Top: plant 艹, below: old 古 (Pictogram of a tomb stone)
Plants (or herbs) that are old, taste bitter.

	固
JLPT HSK 5

gù
Outside frame 囗, but here: mouth 口, inside: old 古 (= tomb stone). [Some things like the meat of old animals or full-grown vegetable becomes hard with age.]
In the mouth old things taste: hard. [In contrast: In the mouth 口 have young things (= this is "not yet 未") a special taste 味]

	潮
JLPT HSK 5

cháo
Left: water 氵, right: dynasty, government 朝 Here: a lake 湖, having the part old: 古 once normal and upside-down to express changing directions
Like a lake 湖 with changing directions are the seawater's tides.

	舍
JLPT HSK 5

shě, shè
Top: cover , below: old 古
The special cover for myself 人 to become old, is my residence.

	姑
JLPT HSK 5

gū
Left: woman 女, right: old 古 (originally a skull, but better the image of a tomb stone)
The woman who is old, is the paternal aunt.

	滴
JLPT HSK 5

dī
Left: water 氵, right: old emperor (mix of emperor 帝 and old 古)
(Due to problems with the prostate gland) Passing 'water', can the old emperor only drop by drop.

	摘
JLPT HSK 5

zhāi
Left: hand 扌, right: old emperor 啇 (mix of emperor 帝 [He stands 立 and is covered 冖 with cloth 巾] and old 古)
The hand of the old emperor is picking/plucking sth.

	胡
JLPT HSK 5

hú
Left: old 古 (image of a tomb stone), right: flesh, body part 月/肉
Like old flesh are the beards of the non-Han people.

	古
JLPT HSK 5

gǔ
Ten 十 and mouth 口. (古 was derived from the image of a skull, therefore the meaning of old. Helpful is also the image of a grave mound)
Below the tomb stone is lying the 'old'.

	啥
JLPT HSK 6

shá
Left: mouth 口, right: house, home 舍 (The particular cover under which I become old 古, is my home.)
The mouth sees the home and asks: What?

	枯
JLPT HSK 6

kū
Left: tree 木, right: old 古 (originally: skull, but better as the image of a tomb stone)
The tree is old and withered.

	辜
JLPT HSK 6

gū
Top: old 古 (originally: skull, but better the image of a tomb stone), below: bitter, sharp 辛 (tattoo needle)
The old and bitter are the guilt of the crimes.

	兢
JLPT HSK 6

jīng
Twice: subdue 克 (The old 古 gets legs 儿, when it is subdued)
Being doubly subdued is apprehensive.

	哉
JLPT no HSK

zāi
Here, see top&right as variant of military 戎 (= with the ten 十 [men] at the halberds 戈), below: mouth 口
At the military, out of the mouths 口 comes a cry of exclamation. Or: "An old 古 halberd 戈!", was what he exclaimed.)

	咕
JLPT no HSK

gū
Left: mouth 口, right: old 古 (originally: skull - better the image of a tomb stone)
A mouth that became old, can only: mumble.

	葫
JLPT no HSK

hú
Top: plant 艹, below: beard, non-Han-person 胡 (Like old 古 flesh 月/肉 are the beards of the non-Han people.)
(The skin can be used as a drinking-vessel.) The plant where the 'old body' is used: The bottle-gourd.

	菇
JLPT no HSK

gū
Top: plant 艹, bottom: paternal aunt 姑 (the woman 女 who is old 古)
The plants (collected) by the old women, are the: mushrooms.

	嘀
JLPT no HSK

dí
Left: mouth 口, right: old emperor 啇 (mix of emperor 帝 [He stands 立 and is covered 冖 with cloth 巾] and old 古)
From the mouth of the old emperor: a backbite.

	沽
JLPT no HSK

gū
Left: water 氵, right: old 古 (originally: a skull but better as the image of a tomb stone)
If the water is old, we need to buy.

	骷
JLPT no HSK

kū
Left: skeleton 骨 (image of a vertebra, cover 冖, body/flesh 月), right: old 古 (originally: a skull, but it's better to imagine a tomb stone)
The skeleton at the tomb stone: a skeleton.

	嫡
JLPT no HSK

dí
Left: woman 女, right: old emperor (mélange of emperor 帝 [He stands 立 and is covered 冖 with cloth 巾] and old 古)
The (first) wife of the old emperor stands for the line of descent.