饭后百步走，活到九十九

• 飠(eat; food)RADICAL
• 反(flip over; reverse)PHONO-SEMANTIC

Rice is food that must be flipped and turned over many times to be cooked properly.

• 口(mouth; door)RADICAL
• 后(behind; empress (figuratively—one who rules from behind))ASSOCIATIVE

A mouth giving orders from behind the golden throne is the authority of an empress.

• 一(one; chief)ASSOCIATIVE
• 白(white; bright; clear)PHONO-SEMANTIC

A hundred is the leading number, shining brightly like pure white light.

• 止(foot (pictographic))RADICAL
• 止(second foot below)ASSOCIATIVE

A step is two feet, one above the other, following each other moving forward.

• 土(earth; soil; ground; land)ASSOCIATIVE
• 止(foot; step)ASSOCIATIVE

A foot stepping on the ground is the image of running and walking.

• 氵(water; liquid)RADICAL
• 舌(blade; tongue)PHONO-SEMANTIC

Living water flowing through a blade creates constant vitality and flexibility.

• 至(arrive; reach)ASSOCIATIVE
• 刂(knife; blade (radical))RADICAL

A sword cutting through the destination is when you truly "arrive" at your goal.

• 九(number nine; bent arm)ASSOCIATIVE

Nine bent fingers curve like an ancient person's arm used to count the largest number.

• 十(number ten; cross shape)ASSOCIATIVE

Two intersecting strokes form a complete whole, symbolizing the number ten.