In the cutting process, chatter vibration occurring between workpiece and tool reduces accuracy and productivity. The dynamic characteristics of a machining operation system that has the structure of machine-tool-workpiece have a serious effect on chatter vibration. The dynamic characteristics of a system are generally estimated in a shock excitation test. However, the result is insufficient to account for the action of chatter vibration during the actual cutting process. The dynamic characteristics of a system during the actual cutting process must be clarified in order to understand the transient vibration mechanism of actual chatter vibration. This paper reports the existence and behavior of dynamic compliance characteristics during the turning process. It affects the occurrence of chatter vibration directly, and this characteristic has not yet been sufficiently examined.