Definitions
(noun)
class; grade; rank
(noun)
government department (historical)
About
The character 曹, structured with the components 艹 and 曰 in its traditional form, emerged from an early conceptual basis representing a pair or couple, which informed its subsequent semantic development. This initial sense of duality naturally evolved to indicate a group or category, particularly applied to people of similar rank or function within administrative contexts, such as in ancient official titles. Over centuries, its usage expanded to become a common surname, while simultaneously maintaining its collective meaning in classical literary expressions addressing groups of individuals.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
曹操是历史人物。
曹先生今天来了。
曹县在山东省。
我们班有姓曹的同学。
曹工程师设计了这座桥。
曹女士是公司的经理。
曹操和曹丕都是三国人物。
曹植的诗歌在中国文学史上很有名。