Japanese symbol for “handling”
操作
そうさ
Romaji: sousa
operation; management; handling
In Japanese, handling is 操作, read そうさ (sousa).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n, vs, vt operation; management; handling
- n, vs, vt manipulating (to one's benefit); manipulation; influencing
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “handling”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 操縦 | そうじゅう soujuu | steering; piloting; flying |
| 扱い | あつかい atsukai | treatment; service; dealing (with) |
| 取り扱い | とりあつかい toriatsukai | treatment; service; handling |
| 応対 | おうたい outai | dealing with (people, customers, complaints, etc.); receiving (callers, visitors, etc.); attending to |
| 対応 | たいおう taiou | dealing with; coping with; handling |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 体操 | たいそう taisou | gymnastics; physical exercises |
| 操縦 | そうじゅう soujuu | steering; piloting; flying |
| 操る | あやつる ayatsuru | to operate (e.g. a machine); to handle; to manage |
| 操業 | そうぎょう sougyou | operation (of a machine, factory, fishing boat, etc.); work |
| 節操 | せっそう sessou | integrity; fidelity; constancy |
| 作る | つくる tsukuru | to make; to produce; to manufacture |
| 作品 | さくひん sakuhin | work (e.g. book, film, painting, composition); piece; production |
| 作業 | さぎょう sagyou | work; operation; task |
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.