How to Write 召 (zhào) — Meaning “to summon; to call”

Imagine a mouth (口) calling out "Come here!" while holding a knife (刀) to emphasize urgency. The picture of a knife under a mouth helps you remember that 召 means 'to summon' with authority.

Start with the top radical 口, written as a rectangle with three strokes, then the bottom part 刀 begins with a left-falling stroke (丿). Be careful not to make the top too wide; the 口 should be slightly narrower than the 刀 below to keep balance.

Unlike 口, which is just 'mouth' as a standalone character, 召 includes 刀 underneath and means 'to summon'. Compared to 卟 (bǔ, to divine), 召 has a knife component instead of a vertical line, and its meaning relates to calling rather than divination.

召 appears in common words like 召开 (to hold a meeting) and 号召 (to call for action). It is often used in formal or official contexts, such as government announcements or organizational invitations, reflecting a sense of authoritative summons.

Common words containing 召 include: 召开 (zhào kāi) — to convene; to hold (a meeting); 号召 (hào zhào) — to call for, to appeal; 召唤 (zhào huàn) — to summon; to call.