操みさおを立たてる

み

さ

お

を

た

て

る

Meanings

1

expression, ichidan verb

adhere firmly to one's principles; stick to one's beliefs

Used for unwavering commitment to moral or personal principles, often in the face of pressure.

彼かれはどんな誘ゆう惑わくにも負まけず、操みさおを立たてて生いきてきた。
He has lived his life adhering firmly to his principles, never yielding to any temptation.

2

expression, ichidan verb

keep one's chastity; remain faithful to one's spouse

Specifically refers to sexual fidelity or chastity; often used in literary or formal contexts.

彼かの女じょは夫おっとの死し後ごも操みさおを立たてて、再さい婚こんしなかった。
She remained faithful to her late husband and never remarried.

Written forms

操みさおを立たてる
Standard kanji spelling for this expression.
操みさおをたてる
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; common in everyday writing.

Kanji

操maneuver, manipulate, operate
立stand up, rise, set up

Similar words

節せっ操そう
節操 is a noun meaning 'constancy' or 'integrity', while 操を立てる is the verbal expression for acting on that principle.
貞てい操そう
貞操 is a noun for 'chastity' or 'virtue', whereas 操を立てる is the action of maintaining it.

Etymology

操 (みさお) means 'chastity' or 'fidelity to principles', and 立てる means 'to stand' or 'to uphold'. The expression literally means 'to stand one's chastity/principles', i.e., to uphold them firmly. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it has been used in classical and literary Japanese.