昭

zhāo

召 + 日

Definitions

zhāo (adjective) bright; clear

zhāo (verb) to show clearly; to manifest

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 日 represents the meaning and 召 represents the sound.

Semantic: 日 Phonetic: 召

About

The character 昭 is a phono-semantic compound: the semantic component 日 (sun) on the left contributes the meaning "light, daytime", while the phonetic component 召 (zhào) on the right indicates the pronunciation. Its original sense is "bright, luminous, clearly manifest", evoking sunlight. From there, it broadened to signify making evident, displaying virtue, or revealing truths. In the context of traditional ancestral temples, it refers to the alternating order of spirit tablets, with the left side reserved for a sequence of generations on the main altar.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他的行动昭示了诚意。

Tā de xíngdòng zhāoshì le chéngyì.

His actions demonstrate sincerity.

阳光昭示新的一天开始。

Yángguāng zhāoshì xīn de yī tiān kāishǐ.

Sunlight heralds the start of a new day.

这个标志昭示着危险。

Zhège biāozhì zhāoshì zhe wēixiǎn.

This sign indicates danger.

昭雪冤屈需要时间。

Zhāoxuě yuānqū xūyào shíjiān.

Clearing wrongful accusations takes time.

他的罪行昭彰，难以掩盖。

Tā de zuìxíng zhāozhāng, nányǐ yǎngài.

His crimes are evident and hard to cover up.

昭告天下，以示公正。

Zhāogào tiānxià, yǐ shì gōngzhèng.

Announce to the world to show justice.

历史昭示我们不忘过去。

Lìshǐ zhāoshì wǒmen bù wàng guòqù.

History reminds us not to forget the past.

他的成就昭著，备受尊敬。

Tā de chéngjiù zhāozhù, bèi shòu zūnjìng.

His achievements are prominent, and he is highly respected.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 召

Component: 日

昭