Meanings of 召
By ear
Play it, then pick what 召 means.
About 召
Podcast: 召
Podcast: 召
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
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
Drill the tone of 召, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 召 to you
Let me explain 召 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 召 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 召?
Learning Lab
Knowing 召 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Etymology of 召
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 刀 represents the sound.
mouth
Origin
召 = 口 + 刀. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 召
Parts
Which of these is part of 召?
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
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
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.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
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.
Which one
Which one means “to call together”?
Example sentences for 召 (10)
Ask Jason
Have a question about 召?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Word Family of 召
Characters with 召
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.'
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 召?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.