声
こえ · koe · JLPT N5 · noun
voice
🎤 koe: a voice calls out co-eh! across the room
Sound-alike: koe is two quick beats, ko-e, like calling co-eh! to get attention — and calling out is what a voice does. The kanji 声 is the simplified form of 聲, which contained 耳 (ear): a voice is what the ear receives.
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.