贝

bei

shell,

money, currency

贝壳 Seashell; 宝贝 "Treasure" (also a term of endearment for children/loved ones)

The body () of shellfish is sticking out from its shell (冂). Purple-colored shellfish (贝) back in Yin (殷) and Jiu(周) Dynasties were used as currency

负

fu

to bear/carry/owe

负重 To carry a heavy load. 负担 Burden (emotional, financial)

负债 To owe debt. 辜负 To betray. (lit. "fail to bear") 负债率 Debt ratio. 

欺负 to bully (originally "to take advantage of someone's burden")

Symbolizes a person (⺈) bearing a sack of money (贝) on his back. 

朿 / 龶

ci

thorn, prickle

to prick, to stab

something sharp sticking out

责

ze

responsibility, duty

to blame/reproach

债务 Debt (financially); 责任 Responsibility (abstract duty)

责备 "To reprimand" (lit. "demand explanation")

债权人 creditor  负责 To be responsible (负 carry + 责 duty)

the sting (朿) of money (贝) debt creates responsibility

绩

ji

merit; accomplishment

achievement; grade

 成绩 result, grade, performance (e.g., in school);

业绩 business performance, professional achievements.

weaving silk (糸) diligently under the pressure of responsibility (责) — and the beautiful cloth they produce represents their tangible  achievement (绩).

贵

gui

expensive, costly precious, valuable

贵重物品 valuable items; 贵族 aristocracy/nobility 

(中) + (一) represents the central importance of what is valued (贝) at the core, thus making it valuable

贯

guan

to pierce, to string

to pass through

贯彻 to implement thoroughly; 一贯 consistent; 一贯作风 consistent style

贯通 to master thoroughly;

Signifies a bundle of coins (贝) created by passing through (毌) a piece of thread through the hole in the middle.

忄

xin

heart

alternative character; it takes this shape when used as a RADICAL placed on the left of a character

惯

guan

to be used to

to be accustomed to

to indulge, to spoil

惯性 "inertia" (physics) or "habitual tendency."

娇惯 "to pamper" (repetitive indulgence)

惯用 "Customary" e.g., 惯用手法 "usual tactics"

_惯犯 "Repeat offender" (habitual crime)

through the heart (忄) something passes through (贯) a feeling or action that becomes habitual or second nature

鼎

ding

tripod

鼎盛 "At the height of power" (like a cauldron at full boil)

鼎立 "Tripartite balance"; 人声鼎沸 meaning "a cacophony of voices" (lit. "like a boiling cauldron")

^鼎言 "Weighty words" (as authoritative as a royal cauldron)

Picture a big, ancient bronze pot with three sturdy legs and two handles, sitting in a temple, radiating power — that’s a 鼎, symbol of ancient might and respect.

攵

pu

to strike

it is always a hand with nunchuck, which prefers to take action by striking

败

bai

to be defeated, to lose

to destroy, to ruin

to decay, to wither

失败 to fail/be defeated (lit. "lose + destroy");

败北 to suffer defeat (北 běi implies "fleeing north" in battle)

腐败 corruption; decay (腐 fǔ rot, 败 breakdown); 败德 moral degradation

击败 to defeat (an enemy); 败诉 to lose a lawsuit

precious shells (贝) smashed (攵) represents defeat and destruction

员

yuan

member, personnel

staff member 

人员 personnel; 员工 staff/employee; 会员 member; 队员 team member

to get the right to speak a mouth (口) should first pay (贝) a membership fee to become a member (员) of a club

圆

yuan

round, circle

圆形 circular shape; 圆满 satisfactory/completion

团圆 family reunion (lit. "circle together" = reunited, complete family

A person (员) inside a circle (囗) → something round, enclosed, or whole