a) 婆 -> 妙 -> 省 -> 眠
婆 BA - old woman
妙 MYOU - strange, odd, adroit, mystery
省 SEI, SHOU, kaerimiru, habu(ku) - ministry, reflect, omit
眠 MIN, nemu(ru), nemu(i) - sleep. sleepy, tired
b) 響 -> 章 -> 古 -> 吸
響 KYOU, hibi(ku) - sound, resound, affect, echo
章 SHOU - chapter, badge, mark
古 KO, furu(i) - old
吸 KYUU, su(u) - suck, inhale, smoke