奏 means “play (music)”

そう · sou

Also: play music, speak to a ruler, complete

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

かなでる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ソウ

Taught in grade 6 · 9 strokes

The story

Hands offering something upward to heaven (天): to play music is to present a gift to the gods. In Japanese court music (雅楽, gagaku), musicians performed 奏楽 as sacred offerings to the emperor, the oldest continuous musical tradition on Earth.

Used in 演奏 (ensou, musical performance), 奏者 (sousha, performer), and 合奏 (gassou, ensemble)

More from Music & Arts

• 劇 drama
• 画 painting
• 彫 carve
• 詩 poetry
• 拍 rhythm
• 弦 string (instrument)
• 笛 flute
• 鼓 drum
• 音 sound
• 曲 melody
• 唱 chant
• 演 perform

Learn 奏 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.