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操场 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
操场cāochǎngplaygroundHSK 4, n, 22 strokes, rank #9429, Medium
操场cāochǎngsports fieldHSK 4, n, 22 strokes, rank #9429, Medium
操场cāochǎngdrill groundHSK 4, n, 22 strokes, rank #9429, Medium
cāochǎng(cao1chang3)cao chang T1
  1. 1playground
  2. 2sports field
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March 24, 2026

操场(操場)cāochǎng(cao1chang3)

操场 refers to a playground or sports field where physical activities such as games and sports take place. It is commonly used in educational contexts, especially in schools, to denote areas designated for outdoor play and exercise.

Strokes22Frequency#9429DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, schools often emphasize physical education, and操场 plays a crucial role in promoting teamwork and social interaction among students during recess and physical education classes.

Memory Tip

Think of 操 (cāo) as 'to operate' or 'to manage' and 场 (chǎng) as 'place' or 'field'. Imagine a coach operating a sports field, overseeing children playing and exercising. The '操' looks like hands managing a lively scene on the '场'.

Meanings of 操场

cāochǎng(cao1chang3)
1playground
2sports field
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 操场

操场Simplified
操場Traditional
22Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#9429Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 操场

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Podcast: 操场

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AI Study Notes for 操场

Quick Contrast

操场 (cāochǎng) vs 体育场 (tǐyùchǎng): use 操场 for playgrounds or school sports fields, while 体育场 refers specifically to larger sports stadiums.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 操场 with similar terms like 学校 (xuéxiào - school) or 体育馆 (tǐyùguǎn - gymnasium), as they refer to different types of spaces. The term is informal and commonly used among students and teachers.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 操场 connects with other terms related to education and physical activities like 体育 (tǐyù - sports) and 运动 (yùndòng - exercise). Focus on its usage in sentences related to school life and outdoor activities.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use the term 操场 for any outdoor area, but it specifically refers to playgrounds or school sports fields. For example, saying '公园是操场' (gōngyuán shì cāochǎng - The park is a playground) is incorrect; it should be '公园是公园' (gōngyuán shì gōngyuán - The park is a park).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 操场

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Component Characters

操cāoto conduct, to manage, to run
16 strokes扌
View full entry
场chǎnglarge place used for a specific purpose
HSK 46 strokes土
View full entry

How to say playground in Chinese

“playground” in Chinese is操场cāochǎng

操场 refers to a playground or sports field where physical activities such as games and sports take place. It is commonly used in educational contexts, especially in schools, to denote areas designated for outdoor play and exercise.

When to use 操场

Be careful not to confuse 操场 with similar terms like 学校 (xuéxiào - school) or 体育馆 (tǐyùguǎn - gymnasium), as they refer to different types of spaces. The term is informal and commonly used among students and teachers.

操场 or something close to it

操场 (cāochǎng) vs 体育场 (tǐyùchǎng): use 操场 for playgrounds or school sports fields, while 体育场 refers specifically to larger sports stadiums.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use the term 操场 for any outdoor area, but it specifically refers to playgrounds or school sports fields. For example, saying '公园是操场' (gōngyuán shì cāochǎng - The park is a playground) is incorrect; it should be '公园是公园' (gōngyuán shì gōngyuán - The park is a park).

Write 操场

操
场

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Grammar Patterns of 操场

操场 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

我今天本想去____踢足球,不料外面下起雨来。

I originally planned to go play football on the field today, but unexpectedly it started raining.

Example Sentences for 操场 (5)

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1
原来的柏油操场已经覆上了草皮或种满了鲜花。

yuán lái de bǎi yóu cāo cháng yǐ jīng fù shàng le cǎo pí huò zhǒng mǎn le xiān huā。

The asphalt playgrounds have been grassed over or sown with flowers.
2
我们的操场延伸到那些树前.

wǒ mén de cāo cháng yán shēn dào nà xiē shù qián.

Our playing fields extend as far as those trees.
3
我离开操场时,孩子们银铃般的笑声还在我耳边回响.

wǒ lí kāi cāo cháng shí, , hái zǐ mén yín líng bān de xiào shēng huán zài wǒ ěr biān huí.

The children's laughter was still ringing in my ears as I left the playground.
4
这块地方被划出来准备作操场用.

zhè kuài dì fāng bèi huá chū lái zhǔn bèi zuò cāo cháng yòng.

This area has been marked off as a future playground.
5
她坐在操场上, 把照片撕成了碎片.

tā zuò zài cāo cháng shàng, , bǎ zhào piàn sī chéng le suì.

She sat on the ground, picking the pictures apart.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 操场

操场 typically refers to a school playground, while 运动场 refers to a more formal sports field used for competitions.

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