Zi Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Person (rén) Cao; Kangxi Stroke Count: 13; Page: Page 114, Entry 12 Zao Cao cut in "Tang Yun", Zang Cao cut in "Ji Yun", pronounced zao. "Shuowen Jiezi" explains it as to end, to finish. In the sentence "Cao ran yao shi wu min" from "Xunzi - Fuguo Pian", "cao ran" (according to this explanation) is "cao ran". "Yangzi - Fangyan" says a complete circle is called a cao. The common variant character is written as "zao". Also, "Ji Yun" has the pronunciation "Zi Qiu cut", pronounced qiu. The meaning is the same. Sometimes written as (character form missing).