曹

cáo
#1,568 most
frequent character
class or grade, generation

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

曹 combines a pair part, old 㯥, with 曰, to speak. Together they first meant opponents or adversaries. The meaning grew to plaintiff and defendant. The surname meaning was borrowed for its sound.

Drawn as: a pair

曹 as a component in other characters

sound8 characters
遭糟槽嘈漕螬艚蹧

Ask DeepSeek

Same Characters, Different Readings

曹Cao2
surname Cao, Zhou Dynasty vassal state

Homophones

槽cáo
trough, groove

Your word lists

Sign in to add this word to your private lists.