The Chinese language is notorious for its homophones, even if you cluster them into same-tone groups to cut down the range a bit, e.g.,
shì (shi in the fourth tone) can be:
* 是 / verb to be
* 事 / (N) matter
* 市 / (N) market
* 试 / (V) to try
The above is just a very short list to illustrate my point. I once had a 1-to-1 private student who said one day, "Not another bloody shi! I just looked up shi in the dictionary yesterday and I counted 30!"
The written script has lookalikes, but the good news is that they are not as many as the soundalikes.
I play a Chinese crossword puzzle game on WeChat, based on four-character phrases / sayings / proverbs.
Some of the sayings contain common elements, which makes it hard to distinguish between the sayings, especially when the clock is ticking.
The examples I have in mind are:
(1) 惊涛骇浪 jīng tāo hài làng
(from googling) 指猛烈的风浪。形容海洋波涛汹涌、浪头巨大得令人惊恐。比喻险恶的环境、尖锐激烈的斗争、巨大的困难或动荡不安的局势。
(google translate)
Quote
Refers to fierce winds and waves. Describes the ocean as turbulent and terrifyingly large waves. Metaphorically, it can also refer to a perilous environment, a fierce and intense struggle, immense difficulties, or a turbulent situation.
Unquote
(2) 放浪形骸 fàng làng xíng hái
(from googling) 指一个人的行为不受约束、不拘礼节，随心所欲，表现出一种洒脱不羁的生活态度。
- 放浪：指言行不受拘束，放纵不羁。
- 形骸：指人的形体、躯壳。
合起来的意思就是，不把自己的身体和外在形象当回事，完全顺从自己的天性行事。
(google translate)
Quote
This phrase describes a person whose behavior is unrestrained, disregards etiquette, and acts as they please, exhibiting a carefree and unconventional attitude towards life.
放浪 (fànglàng): Refers to unrestrained speech and actions, and a free and unconventional lifestyle.
形骸 (xínghái): Refers to the human body or physical form.
Combined, it means not caring about one's body and outward appearance, and acting entirely according to one's nature.
Unquote
In the crossword puzzle game, phrases will appear with one character (or more) missing, with a selection of similar-looking ones to choose from, e.g., 惊涛骇浪 and 放浪形骸 will come up as 惊涛_浪 and 放浪形_, with 骇 and 骸 to choose from.
The sort of red herring denominator in the two phrases (惊涛骇浪 and 放浪形骸) is the 浪 làng / [water] wave -- for me, anyway.
So, I've devised a mnemonic:
* for 惊涛_浪 (惊涛骇浪): go for the 惊 jīng / startle and the 骇 hái (horse radical), and say (aloud), "Startle the horse."
* for 放浪形_ (放浪形骸): go for the 放 fàng / to release and the 骸 hái (bone radical), and say (aloud), "Let the bones go."
It works every single time now. No hesitation.
PS: An additional trick to mnemonics is to say them out loud, which works a bit like the Pavlov's dog effect. If the sounds are in the wrong order, you will immediately hear the mistake (a bit like singing a song with one bit wrong).
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