召 means “summon, eat (honorific)”

めす · mesu

Also: seduce, call, send for, wear

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): めす
On'yomi (Chinese reading): ショウ

JLPT N2 · Taught in secondary school · 5 strokes

The story

A blade (刀) over a mouth (口): picture a lord's call that no one dares refuse. Now 召す is a deeply polite verb: 召し上がってください is "please eat", お気に召しましたか asks if you like it, and the Diet opens with a 召集.

Used in 召し上がる (meshiagaru, to eat, honorific), お気に召す (oki ni mesu, to be to one's liking), and 召集 (shoushuu, convocation/summons)

召 means “summon, eat (honorific)”

The story

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