樂

Several theories exist regarding its origin:

1. Pictograph of a stringed instrument

2. Depicts bells held in the hands during ritual dances

3. Based on a drum or percussion instrument

In any case, the character is considered a pictograph.

Old Chinese reconstruction: ŋrawks (Baxter). Later sound changes gave rise to multiple readings (ak, rak, yo, ro, ryo, rok).

樂園 (낙원) — paradise

音樂 (음악) — music

快樂 (쾌락) — joy, happiness, pleasure

娛樂 (오락) — entertainment

樂曲 (악곡) — musical piece

Main reading: ak (ak) → 樂器 (musical instrument)

Derived readings:

rak (rak, joy/pleasure → 樂園 “paradise,”

yo (yo, to like → 樂此不疲 “to delight in this and never tire”)

ro (ro, attested in some classical texts)

ryo (ryo, only in passages in the Book of Songs)

rok (rok, found in military classics like the Six Secret Teachings)

Note:

The Korean reading: when 樂 is used at the start of a word, often follows the two-sound law (두음법칙), so 락 → 낙 (e.g., 樂園 → 낙원).

Otherwise, 樂 is usually read 악 (music) or 락 (joy/pleasure).

楽 (U+697D) — Japanese shinjitai (simplified form)

乐 (U+4E50) — Chinese simplified form

㦡 (U+39A1) — old form with 心 (heart radical)