TSUMUGU · B1 (est.) · 字
琴
琴 ＝ 玨 ＋ 今
ㄑㄧㄣˊ · qín
noun — the qin (a seven-string zither); any large stringed/keyboard instrument (鋼琴 piano)
字源 FORM — what the parts do
玨形two jade-like rows — the strings stretched across the board
ITjīn → qín — initial and tone shift
Two rows of strings (玨) stretched taut across the top, 今 jīn beneath them carrying the sound. The graph began as a straight picture of the instrument — the body and its tuned strings. From the qin zither, the word stretched to cover any played instrument: 鋼琴、提琴、口琴.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
兩排弦（玨）繃在琴面上，手指一撥，今（jīn）一聲就響了。
Two rows of strings (玨) stretched across the board; a finger plucks and the tone (今) sounds.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)古琴— the qin, a seven-string zither
→鋼琴、提琴— by extension, any large stringed or keyboard instrument常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
瑟sèthe partner instrument — 瑟 carries 必 below the same strings, a larger zither; 琴 carries 棋qíthe desk-companion (琴棋書畫) — 棋 is wood 木 plus 其, a board game, not an instrument