掌声
zhǎngshēng · HSK 6
applause
👏 palm + sound = the sound your palms make together
掌 (zhǎng) means palm of the hand, 声 (shēng) means sound or voice. Put them together: palm-sound, the noise of hands clapping. The zh- opening even echoes the sharp slap of a clap.
声 — 士 scholar/warrior on top + 尸-like form + components (simplified from 聲)
声 is the simplified form of 聲, which originally depicted a hanging stone chime (殸) being struck, with 耳 'ear' below to show hearing. The full form combined the sound-making instrument and the act of listening, meaning 'sound' or 'voice'. The modern simplified 声 keeps only the upper portion.