曲

Pictograph:

Originally depicted a bent object, such as a curved piece of wood.

In small seal script (小篆), written as 凹 (concave form) with additional strokes inside, emphasizing the sense of curvature.

Later in clerical script (隸書), the form evolved with 覀 at the top and horizontal strokes inside.

Eventually simplified into the modern form 曲.

Semantic extension from “curved line” to “melodic line” in music.

악곡 (樂曲) — musical piece, composition

곡선 (曲線) — curved line

곡해 (曲解) — distortion, misinterpretation

비곡 (悲曲) — sad melody

Read with level tone (平성) when meaning “bent, curved.”

Read with rising tone (上聲) when meaning “music, melody, tune.”