操 — to manipulate

Grade 6そう, あやつ

Radical ⼿ · radical 64 The building block this kanji is filed under

操 (readings: そう, あやつ; Japanese kanji) means “to manipulate”. It is a Grade 6 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 6 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 操作 (operation).

Try it now

What does 操 mean?

Full details, readings & example

Kanji	操
Meaning	to manipulate
Readings	そう, あやつ
Grade	Grade 6 (Hardest)
Curriculum	Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school
Example	操作 (operation)

How to read 操

操 is read そう or あやつ depending on the word.

Words with 操

操作そうさthao tác
貞操trinh tiết

Learn 操 in real sentences — free

Read stories and news built from only the kanji you already know. KanjiSchool’s path covers all 2,136 Jōyō kanji — 1,026 ready to learn now.

Start free — no credit card →

Read this character in a real sentence

📻 Radio taiso: why Japan does the same three-minute workout at 6:30 am Grade 6
🛰️ 宇宙を旅する探査機「はやぶさ２」 Grade 6

Updated: 2026-08-09