录音
lùyīn · HSK 3
record sound
🎙️ 录 = record + 音 = sound; together: record sound (audio recording)
录 means to record or copy down; 音 means sound or tone (same 音 as in 音乐 music). Put them together and 录音 is literally recorded sound — an audio recording, or the act of recording one.
录 — 彐 (hand) + 氺 (water/threads)
Originally depicted a hand carving or inscribing characters, with the lower element suggesting shavings or marks. The early meaning was 'to carve' or 'to engrave', which extended to 'to record' or 'to write down'. Today it primarily means 'to record' or 'copy'.