曹
ソウ, ゾウ, つかさ, ともがら, へや
cadet, friend
JLPT1 G7 S11 F1998
The relevant oracle bone form of this character is 口 mouth beneath a representation# of two slender, oblong sacks (compare 東). Here, the sacks indicate an array of similar, ordinary objects. The combination of elements suggests an array/*group* of ordinary (= low-ranking) officials meeting and conversing → *official*; (low-ranking) *office(r)*; *comrade*.
[Full Kanji Etymology List]