操
操 — Maneuver
maneuver, manipulate, operate, steer, chastity, virginity
On’yomiソウ (sou)
On’yomiサン (san)
Kun’yomiみさお (misao)
Kun’yomiあやつる (ayatsuru)
Stroke order (16 strokes)
Watch the strokes draw themselves in the correct order — numbers mark where each stroke starts. Diagram from KanjiVG (CC BY-SA).
Common words using 操
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 操作 | そうさ sousa | operation; management; handling |
| 操縦 | そうじゅう soujuu | steering; piloting; flying |
| 操業 | そうぎょう sougyou | operation (of a machine, factory, fishing boat, etc.); work |
| 体操 | たいそう taisou | gymnastics; physical exercises; artistic gymnastics |
| 操 | みさお misao | fidelity; honour; honor |
| 操る | あやつる ayatsuru | to operate (e.g. a machine); to handle; to manage |
Study notes
操 is a JLPT N1 kanji written with 16 strokes. It is taught in Japanese elementary school (grade 6), so native children learn it early — a good sign it appears everywhere. Ranked #1016 of the 2,500 most frequent kanji in newspapers. On’yomi (音読み) are Chinese-derived readings mostly used in compound words; kun’yomi (訓読み) are native Japanese readings, with any highlighted part written in hiragana after the kanji (okurigana).
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