人民 (rénmín) · the people

人 rén · person

What 人 is made of

人 is not built from smaller parts; it is written with 2 strokes.

Origin hint: The legs of a human being (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

民 mín · citizens

What 民 is made of

• 巳sì — the hours from 9 to 11
  • 乚 — hook stroke
• 戈gē — spear

Origin hint: An eye 巳 pierced by a dagger 戈, an old mark of slavery (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)