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操作 (cāo zuò) — to operate, to work (a machine, software, or system)

Definition

Hands-on operation of a machine or software — the verb for 'operating, running, working' a device. Unlike 运作 (running an organization or system in the abstract), 操作 requires a concrete tool you actually use.

verb
to operateto work (a machine, software, or system)

Examples

  • 操作。
    Wǒ men jīng guò péi xùn cái néng cāo zuò zhè tái xīn shè bèi.
    We need training before we can operate this new equipment.
  • 。
    Tā huā le bàn xiǎo shí cái xué huì cāo zuò zhè ge ruǎn jiàn.
    It took him half an hour to learn how to operate this software.
  • 操作。
    Qǐng ān quán dì cāo zuò zhè tái jī qì.
    Please operate this machine safely.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

操cāohandle
作zuòdo

操 means to handle or control and 作 means to do, so it means to carry out operations.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
喿
喿zào操cāo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 手 shows a hand, indicating an action done by hand. The right part 喿 gives the sound.

Open 操 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
乍
乍zhà作zuò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 亻 comes from 人, meaning 'person', and the right side 乍 gives the sound.

Open 作 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 6Technology & Engineering5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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