奏
zòu
to play music
to achieve; to present a memorial to the emperor (old)
a picture of 奏 → lifting an offering toward heaven
The ancient form shows hands raising something up, with 天 lending the sense of directing it skyward. Playing music for a ruler and presenting a memorial share the same gesture: offering something upward to a higher power.
他们在台上合奏了一首歌。
tā men zài tái shàng hé zòu le yī shǒu gē。
They played a song together on stage.
乐队齐奏时，声音非常好听。
yuè duì qí zòu shí， shēng yīn fēi cháng hǎo tīng。
When the band played all together, the sound was very pleasing.
Words with 奏
弹奏
tán zòu
to play (musical instrument, esp. string)
四重奏
sì chóng zòu
quartet (musical ensemble)
重奏
chóng zòu
musical ensemble of several instruments (e.g. duet 二重奏 or trio 三重奏)
钢琴演奏
gāng qín yǎn zòu
piano performance
间奏
jiān zòu
interlude (music)
陈奏
chén zòu
to present a memorial (to the Emperor)
三重奏
sān chóng zòu
trio (musical ensemble)
二重奏
èr chóng zòu
duet (in music)
伴奏
bàn zòu
to accompany (musically)
先斩后奏
xiān zhǎn hòu zòu
lit. first execute the criminal, then report it to the emperor (idiom)
八重奏
bā chóng zòu
octet (musical ensemble)
前奏曲
qián zòu qǔ
prelude (music)