歌剧 (gē jù)

Character breakdown

• 歌 (gē) · 14 strokes

  Originally depicted a person carrying an axe while singing. Now a phonosemantic compound. 欠 (pictograph of a person opening their mouth) represents the meaning and 哥 represents the sound.

• 剧 (jù) · 10 strokes

  Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 居 represents the sound. Simplified form of 劇.