Si Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Water (shuǐ) Entry: Cao Kangxi strokes: 15 Page 645, Entry 24 Pronounced zao (falling tone). Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Simple and Compound Characters) states: water turning a wheel. Another definition: the vessel or vehicle in which one travels. Annals of Emperor Wu, Book of Han (Hanshu): To dig a canal for water transport, connecting to the Wei River. Commentary: Water movement is called cao. Also, transporting goods by water is called cao. Biography of Chancellor Xiao, Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji): Transporting supplies by water to provide for the army. Also a surname. Biography of Knights-errant, Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji): Cao Zhongshu of Xihe. Pronounced cao. Name of a state city in Wei. Odes of Bei, Book of Odes (Shijing): Building city walls for the state at Cao. Pronounced zou. Also refers to water transport.