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道Nihongo Path
召

召·summon

On-yomi
ショウ
Kun-yomi
め(す)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

5 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
召集しょうしゅうconvocation, calling together
召し上がるめしあがるto eat, to drink (honorific)
召喚しょうかんsummons (legal)
召し上げるめしあげるto confiscate, to requisition

Example sentences

  1. どうぞ熱いうちに召し上がってください。

    どうぞあついうちにめしあがってください。

    Please eat it while it's hot.

  2. 臨時国会が召集された。

    りんじこっかいがしょうしゅうされた。

    An extraordinary session of the Diet was convened.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 召集 as めしあつめ — the compound is しょうしゅう
  • Using 召し上がる about yourself; it is honorific and describes what someone else eats

Memory aid

Picture it

A sword-like stroke over a mouth (口): a command spoken from above, calling someone in.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 召 mean?