奏

Originally derived from 奉 (받들 봉), but with 丰 (예쁠 봉) replaced by 夭 (일찍 죽을 요).

Classified as a compound ideograph: the upper component suggests hands holding something, while the lower component emphasizes offering or presenting.

Over time, the meaning extended from “offering up” to submitting petitions and musical performance before a superior.

奏上 (주상) — to submit a report (to a monarch).

奏請 (주청) — to formally request.

演奏 (연주) — to play or perform music.

奏效 (주효) — to have an effect, to work successfully.

In Classical Chinese, 奏 carried a sense of formal deference; even musical performance was conceptualized as an act of offering to superiors.

In modern Chinese, while still formal, it is widely used in compounds such as 演奏 (performance) and 奏效 (to take effect).