How to Write 罩 (zhào) — Meaning “To cover; a mask; a hood”

Imagine a net (罒) dropping down over a tall table (卓) to cover everything on it. This image of a net covering something high helps you remember both the shape and the meaning "to cover."

Write the top radical 罒 first as a flat rectangle with four strokes, then the lower part 卓 starting with the vertical stroke. Make sure the lower 卓 is slightly wider than the top radical so the character looks balanced, and do not make the top too small.

罩 (cover) focuses on a physical covering like a mask or lampshade, while 罨 (yǎn) is a rare character meaning a net for fishing or covering. 罪 (zuì) means crime and uses the same radical, but has a different bottom part (非) and no idea of covering.

罩 is very common in everyday words like 口罩 (face mask), which became globally familiar during the pandemic, and 灯罩 (lampshade). The character often appears in items that cover or protect, and wearing a 口罩 is a normal practice in Chinese culture for health and pollution.

Common words containing 罩 include: 口罩 (kǒu zhào) — face mask; 灯罩 (dēng zhào) — Lampshade; 罩衫 (zhào shān) — Smock; blouse; overshirt.