When “焦” fills a head
Why it is in the set
忙 (busy) covers having too much to do. 焦 covers the different and worse feeling of not having enough time to do it, which is what actually occupies a head. Keeping both was deliberate: the two come out differently in the reading and people recognise which one they got.
What a head full of it looks like
Opening three things and finishing none. Checking the time and checking it again ninety seconds later. Starting to type a reply before reading the whole message. A head led by 焦 is moving faster than it is thinking.
Words that use it
焦る (aseru, to be in a rush), 焦り (aseri, the feeling of being pressed), 焦げる (kogeru, to burn, of food), 焦点 (shouten, a focal point), 焦土 (shoudo, scorched earth).
Kanji it turns up with
締 (deadlines) and 課 (tasks) behind 焦 read as work. 焦 leading with 眠 (sleep) second is the combination the quips find funniest, because it is the one that explains itself.
Where “焦” comes from
A short-tailed bird, 隹, over fire, 灬. A bird being cooked. The original meaning is scorched, and it still means that: 焦げる (kogeru) is what happens to toast.
The second meaning grew out of the first. 焦る (aseru) is to be hurried, to feel the heat of a deadline. English does something similar with “under fire”.
The four dots at the bottom, 灬, are fire. They turn up under 熱 (heat), 照 (to shine) and 煮 (to boil), and once you can see them the characters stop looking arbitrary.
A line you might get for “焦”
“Moving fast in no particular direction.”
Count the “焦” in your own headOthers in “Feelings”
“焦” is filed under “Feelings”. These are the rest of that group.
The 36 kanji
This is entirely a joke and has nothing to do with any real person.