可惜 (kěxī) · it's a pity

可 kě · but

What 可 is made of

• 丁dīng — male adult
• 口kǒu — mouth
  • 冂 — frame
    • 丨 — vertical stroke
  • 一 — horizontal stroke

Origin hint: 丁 gives the meaning, 口 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

惜 xī · pity

What 惜 is made of

• 忄xīn — heart
  • 八bā — eight
  • 丨 — vertical stroke
• 昔xī — past
  • 廿niàn — twenty
    • 廾gǒng — two hands
    • 一 — horizontal stroke
  • 日rì — sun; day
    • 口kǒu — mouth
    • 一 — horizontal stroke