JLPT N1 · Verb

操る (ayatsuru)

操る (あやつる, ayatsuru) is a Japanese verb meaning “to operate (e.g. a machine); to handle”. It appears in JLPT N1 vocabulary lists and is marked as a common word in JMdict.

Reading: あやつる
Romaji: ayatsuru
Word class: Godan verb (う-verb) ending in る
Level: JLPT N1 (unofficial)

Meaning

to operate (e.g. a machine); to handle; to manage; to control; to maneuver · godan verb, transitive
to have a good command of (a language); to play proficiently (of a musical instrument) · godan verb, transitive
to work (a puppet); to pull the strings of a puppet · godan verb, transitive
to manipulate (a person, public opinion, etc.); to pull the strings; to control from the shadows; to mastermind · godan verb, transitive

Example sentences

あの通訳は５か国語を自由に操る。

That interpreter is a master of five languages.

Tatoeba #230569

儲けようとする投機筋に操られているのです。

It's being manipulated by investors trying to make it rich.

Tatoeba #74170

Sentences from the Tatoeba project, linked to this word in JMdict.

Conjugation of 操る

Godan verb (う-verb) ending in る. Plain and polite forms below; try any other word in the Japanese verb conjugator.

Form	Japanese	Reading
Dictionary	操る	あやつる ayatsuru
Polite (~masu)	操ります	あやつります ayatsurimasu
Negative	操らない	あやつらない ayatsuranai
Polite negative	操りません	あやつりません ayatsurimasen
Past	操った	あやつった ayatsutta
Polite past	操りました	あやつりました ayatsurimashita
Negative past	操らなかった	あやつらなかった ayatsuranakatta
Te-form	操って	あやつって ayatsutte
Potential	操れる	あやつれる ayatsureru
Passive	操られる	あやつられる ayatsurareru
Causative	操らせる	あやつらせる ayatsuraseru
Volitional	操ろう	あやつろう ayatsurou
Imperative	操れ	あやつれ ayatsure
Conditional (~ba)	操れば	あやつれば ayatsureba

Kanji in 操る

操

maneuver, manipulate, operateソウ・サン・みさお・あやつ.る · 16 strokes

Related words

Other vocabulary sharing a kanji with 操る.

操作そうさoperation操縦そうじゅうsteering体操たいそうgymnastics

Source: JMdict entry 1400010 (EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0). Level: unofficial JLPT list – how levels are assigned.