The kanji 抄 generally conveys the meaning of "to excerpt," "to extract," "to copy," or "to summarize." It implies taking something from a larger source and creating a smaller, more focused version. This can involve copying text, selecting specific parts, or creating a condensed version.

・On-yomi (音読み): ショウ ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): そ(う)

⚫︎抄訳 (しょうやく) Translation: Abridged translation ⚫︎抄本 (しょうほん) Translation: A copy; a transcript; an excerpt ⚫︎抄出 (しょうしゅつ) Translation: Selection; excerpting; extract

The kanji 抄 is a 形声文字 (keisei moji), a phono-semantic compound. The left side is the radical 手 (て - te), meaning "hand." The right side is 抄, which provides the sound and the original meaning of "to pick" or "to scoop." The combination suggests the action of using one's hand to select or extract something. This character originally depicted the action of taking something out, like picking out rice from a pile. Over time, its meaning broadened to include extracting information or making copies.