Readings: ショウ (Onyomi), め-す, めし- (Kunyomi)
Meaning: summon, call, send for, invite, wear, buy (honorific)
The kanji 召 depicts a person (刀, a variant of 人) kneeling or standing under a mouth (口). It originally meant “to call, summon, or invite someone from above” or “to receive from a superior.” It often carries a sense of respect or formality, especially when used in honorifics.
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 召 has 5 strokes. It begins with the two horizontal strokes on the left side, followed by a vertical stroke passing through them. Finally, the “口” (mouth) radical is written to the right, starting with the vertical stroke, then the horizontal-vertical-horizontal, and closing the box.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 口 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 5 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ショウ (shō)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- めす (mesu)
- めし- (meshi-)
Common Words Using 召
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 召集 | しょうしゅう | convocation, mobilization |
| 召喚 | しょうかん | summons (e.g., to court), subpoena |
| 召還 | しょうかん | recall (e.g., of a diplomat) |
| 召命 | しょうめい | divine call, vocation |
| 召請 | しょうせい | invitation, request to come (formal) |
| 召致 | しょうち | summoning, calling (formal) |
| 召募 | しょうぼ | recruitment, enlistment (formal) |
| 召集令 | しょうしゅうれい | conscription order, draft order |
| 召還命令 | しょうかんめいれい | recall order |
| 召開 | しょうかい | convocation, summoning to open (e.g., a meeting) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 召す | めす | to call, to invite, to eat/drink (honorific), to wear (honorific), to buy (honorific) |
| 召し上がる | めしあがる | to eat/drink (honorific) |
| 召し使い | めしつかい | servant |
| 召し物 | めしもの | clothing (honorific) |
| 召し抱える | めしかかえる | to employ, to hire (historically) |
| 召し出す | めしだす | to summon, to call out |
| 召し上げる | めしあげる | to confiscate, to take away (from a superior) |
| 召されれば | めされれば | if one is summoned/eats (classical) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 大統領は緊急会議を召集した。
Kana: だいとうりょうはきんきゅうかいぎをしょうしゅうした。
Romaji: Daitōryō wa kinkyū kaigi o shōshū shita.
English: The president convened an emergency meeting.
Japanese: 彼は裁判所に召喚された。
Kana: かれはさいばんしょにしょうかんされた。
Romaji: Kare wa saibansho ni shōkan sareta.
English: He was summoned to court.
Japanese: お客様、どうぞ召し上がってください。
Kana: おきゃくさま、どうぞめしあがってください。
Romaji: Okyaku-sama, dōzo meshiagatte kudasai.
English: Please eat/drink, honored guest.
Japanese: 昔、殿様には多くの召し使いがいた。
Kana: むかし、とのさまにはおおくのめしつかいがいた。
Romaji: Mukashi, tonosama ni wa ooku no meshitsukai ga ita.
English: In the past, lords had many servants.
Japanese: 陛下が彼を召された。
Kana: へいかがかれをめされた。
Romaji: Heika ga kare o mesareta.
English: His Majesty summoned him.
Japanese: 政府は外国にいる大使を召還した。
Kana: せいふはがいこくにいるたいしをしょうかんした。
Romaji: Seifu wa gaikoku ni iru taishi o shōkan shita.
English: The government recalled the ambassador abroad.
Japanese: 彼は神からの召命を感じた。
Kana: かれはかみからのしょうめいをかんじた。
Romaji: Kare wa kami kara no shōmei o kanjita.
English: He felt a divine calling.
Japanese: 新しい召集令状が届いた。
Kana: あたらしいしょうしゅうれいじょうがとどいた。
Romaji: Atarashii shōshūreijō ga todoita.
English: A new conscription order arrived.
Japanese: ご老人は毎日お酒を召す習慣があった。
Kana: ごろうじんはまいにちおさけをめすしゅうかんがあった。
Romaji: Gorōjin wa mainichi osake o mesu shūkan ga atta.
English: The old man had a habit of drinking sake every day.
Japanese: この召し物はお客様用でございます。
Kana: このめしものはおきゃくさまようでございます。
Romaji: Kono meshimono wa okyakusama-yō de gozaimasu.
English: This clothing is for guests (honorific).
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