Katsuo wrote:

lanval wrote:

is there any good alternative to that taskmaster primitive

Heisig wrote "conjure up the memory of some taskmaster (or taskmistress) whom you will 'never forget'".

So think of someone (real or imagined) who personifies this word for you. For example a strict schoolteacher from your past. Or one of the suggestions in the posts above. Personally, I use a circus ringmaster and have the first stroke as his whip.

Ditto. Taskmaster became one of my easiest primitives to work into a story because I associated it with the meanest teacher I ever had - a high school vocal teacher who would kick chairs, swear at us, and throw things if we were out of tune.

I had no problems at all distinguishing it from similar primitives because of his angry, cross-eyed, red-veined face with spittle frothing on his lips.

@harhol: LOL

I choose just teacher as the primitive meaning, and usually try to think of my martial arts instructors.

Heisig may recommend that, but the collective experience of users on this site is clearly that new primitive meanings should be adopted as often as is helpful.

onafarm wrote:

I've changed a few primitives. Not many, but some that just don't stick in my consciousness. But before I do so, I check the index, including Volume III index to ensure there will be no conflicts.

+1

Changing is okay.  But it should not be casually done -- never simply because you can come up with a quick story for one or two new kanji.  You have to make sure you're not creating a bigger problem for yourself down the road than the one you are attempting to solve with a renaming.