Radical 土

15 strokes

earth 土 (54a) + used to be 曾 (672a) = increase 增

增加 (325) zēngjiā to increase

[增长 (172) zēngzhǎng to increase, grow]

(A farmer looks at a handful of soil) the earth used to be arid and barren, but he’s enriched it and increased the crop yield tremendously. / [DIY pronunciation]

horns 丷 (65a) + windowpane (671b) + sun 日 (6) = used to be 曾

The old stag looks at his horns in the windowpane as the sun goes down. they used to be magnificent, he sighs. / [No pronunciation needed]