漕 (cáo): to transport grain by waterway

Meanings

过去，粮食靠水路漕运到京城。

Guòqù, liángshi kào shuǐlù cáoyùn dào jīngchéng.

In the past, grain was shipped to the capital by waterway.

大运河是漕运的主要通道。

Dàyùnhé shì cáoyùn de zhǔyào tōngdào.

The Grand Canal was the main artery for grain transport.

history

漕 mainly appears in 漕运, the imperial system of shipping tax grain to the capital by river and canal, central to the economy of dynastic China.

radical

氵 shuǐ

water

The water radical, side form of 水, fixes the meaning of 漕 as transport by waterway, distinct from land carriage.

phonetic

曹 cáo

company; group

Supplies the sound cáo exactly. It is the same character seen standing alone as the surname 曹.

漕 cáo