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兄 (Older Brother) vs 弟 (Younger Brother) vs 子 (Child) vs 説 (Explain)

兄 (Older Brother) is a big mouth (口) on legs (儿), and adding Speech (言) to Older Brother gives 説 (Explain)!

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兄
Older Brother mouth 口 on legs 儿 = Older Brother
弟
Younger Brother horned bow wrapped around a vertical staff = Younger Brother
子
Child swaddled baby with arms out = Child
説
Theory speech 言 + older brother 兄 = Explain
mouth 口 on legs 儿 = Older Brother
兄 OLDER BROTHER
ON きょう, けい
Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 兄 (Older Brother) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

Your older brother can fit the whole Kyoto (きょう) cake (けい) in his mouth.

horned bow wrapped around a vertical staff = Younger Brother
弟 YOUNGER BROTHER
ON だい, で, てい
Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 弟 (Younger Brother) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

As part of his daily (で) diet (だい), your younger brother does a taped (てい) hopsack session.

swaddled baby with arms out = Child
子 CHILD
ON し, す
KUN こ
Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 子 (Child) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

Just a happy child with his pet sheep (し) eating cold (こ) soup (す)...

speech 言 + older brother 兄 = Explain
説 THEORY
ON せつ
KUN と
Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 説 (Theory) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

In theory your birthday cake is free but somehow your evil brother in a set suit (せつ) is still charging a toll (と)...

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