Explore 召 in formal situations where someone is called or a gathering is convened.
The idea
召 has 5 strokes; use the linked diagram for their order. Its on-reading ショウ appears in 召喚（しょうかん） and 召集（しょうしゅう）; 召す（めす） is a formal verb meaning to summon. Learn readings with whole words.
Examples
- 裁判所は証人を召喚しました。The court summoned a witness.
- 王は大臣たちを召しました。The king summoned his ministers.
- 国会が昨日、召集されました。The Diet was convened yesterday.
- 証人は召喚状を受け取りました。The witness received a summons.
- 会社はその製品を回収しました。The company recalled the product.
- 外交官は本国に召還されました。The diplomat was recalled to their home country.
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Watch out
召喚 summons someone, while 召還 recalls someone to their country or post. Both are read しょうかん, so context and the second kanji matter.
Try it yourself
Write the reading of 召喚 in hiragana.
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しょうかん
召喚 is しょうかん: a court may summon a witness.
Write the reading of 召集 in hiragana.
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しょうしゅう
召集 is しょうしゅう: it can refer to convening the Diet.
Choose the kanji for recalling someone: 召＿［喚／還］.
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還
還 makes 召還, recalling someone; 喚 would make 召喚, summoning them.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Write the reading of 召喚 in hiragana.
Write the reading of 召集 in hiragana.
Choose the kanji for recalling someone: 召＿［喚／還］.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write 召 using the diagram, then cover the readings and read 召喚 and 召集 aloud. Make a sentence with one.