演奏
yǎnzòu · HSK 6
give instrumental performance
🎻🎹 演 perform + 奏 play music = a live instrumental performance
奏 originally meant presenting something formally to the emperor. With 演 (perform/act out), it narrows to playing instruments live — distinct from singing (唱).
演 — water 氵 + 寅 (yín, phonetic)
演 is a semantic-phonetic compound: the water radical 氵 gives the meaning, originally referring to water flowing far and spreading out, while 寅 supplies the sound. From 'water extending' it broadened to 'develop, elaborate, perform,' as in unfolding a story or acting out a play.
奏 — hands 廾 lifting offering 夭 + 丰 (sheaf)
Originally a pictograph showing two hands respectfully presenting an offering or sheaf upward, often interpreted as presenting music or tribute to a ruler. From this ceremonial sense it came to mean 'to play (music),' 'to present (a memorial to the throne),' and by extension 'to achieve' or 'accomplish.'