Meanings of 召
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About 召
Podcast: 召
Podcast: 召
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AI Study Notes for 召
召 (shào) vs 叫 (jiào) — use 召 for formal summoning or gathering, while 叫 is more casual for calling someone's name or getting their attention.
Be careful not to confuse 召 with similar sounding characters like 照 (zhào), which means 'to shine' or 'to reflect.' It's used in both formal and informal settings, so adjust your tone accordingly. Common collocations include 召集 (shàojí) which means 'to convene' or 'to assemble.'
This character may not be in the standard HSK levels but is useful for learners aiming to expand their vocabulary beyond basic phrases. It connects well with other action verbs, such as 叫 (jiào - to call) and 请 (qǐng - to invite), which are essential at beginner levels.
Learners often confuse 召 with 叫 (jiào), which also means 'to call' but is less formal. For example, saying '我召叫他' (Wǒ shào jiào tā) is incorrect; instead, use '我召他' (Wǒ shào tā).
Pronunciation of 召
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Etymology of 召
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 刀 represents the sound.
mouth
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 召
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 刀 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half刀 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaymouth
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 召? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 召
Identify the Components
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How to say to call together in Chinese
“to call together” in Chinese is召
The character 召 (shào) primarily means 'to call together' or 'to summon.' It is commonly used in both formal contexts, such as summoning someone for an important event or meeting, and informal ones, like calling friends together. The character can also refer to a historical context as an ancient state's name or be used in place names.
When to use 召
Be careful not to confuse 召 with similar sounding characters like 照 (zhào), which means 'to shine' or 'to reflect.' It's used in both formal and informal settings, so adjust your tone accordingly. Common collocations include 召集 (shàojí) which means 'to convene' or 'to assemble.'
召 or something close to it
召 (shào) vs 叫 (jiào) — use 召 for formal summoning or gathering, while 叫 is more casual for calling someone's name or getting their attention.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 召 with 叫 (jiào), which also means 'to call' but is less formal. For example, saying '我召叫他' (Wǒ shào jiào tā) is incorrect; instead, use '我召他' (Wǒ shào tā).
Write 召
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Practice writing 召 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 召
召 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
这是为了讨论改善环境问题而____开的会议。
This is a meeting convened for the purpose of discussing environmental improvement.
Common Confusions with 召
Similar sound, but 招 has a different meaning related to recruitment.
Similar pronunciation and shape, but different meanings.
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to call together"?
Example Sentences for 召 (10)
Word Family of 召
Compound Meaning
What does 超 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 召
You can say '我召集大家开会' (Wǒ shàojí dàjiā kāihuì) meaning 'I am calling everyone to a meeting.'
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