操守 refers to a person’s moral integrity, ethical principles, and consistent adherence to right conduct—especially in situations where temptation or pressure might lead one astray. The character 操 (cāo) means 'to practice' or 'to cultivate', while 守 (shǒu) means 'to uphold' or 'to guard'. Together, they literally suggest 'cultivating and guarding one’s moral standards', emphasizing active commitment rather than passive belief. This word carries strong connotations of inner discipline and social responsibility.

It is commonly used in formal, written, or evaluative contexts—such as discussions of professional ethics (e.g., judges, doctors, teachers), political accountability, or personal character assessments. Unlike more general terms like 品德 (pǐn dé, 'moral character'), 操守 highlights steadfastness over time and under challenge. It often appears in collocations like 职业操守 (zhí yè cāo shǒu, 'professional integrity') or 道德操守 (dào dé cāo shǒu, 'moral integrity').