ZHAO-4

The sound-determining element of many characters spoken as 'zhao' is: 召 = zhao(4) = to summon (this is a theoretical meaning, as in modern Chinese, 召 is not used as a single-character word). 召 is also the sound-determining element in many words spoken as 'chao'.

召 = to summon

The above meaning, however, is archaic and theoretical. Most, but not all, modern Chinese words use two characters, and most Chinese today would not be able to asssociate a meaning with the single character 召.

There are four standard Chinese words that use 召 as the first syllable. Their meaning is similar to each other. The most common is:

召开 = zhao(4)kai(1) = to convene

*****

照 = picture (noun), portrait (noun), to take pictures (verb)

However, as ever so often, the two-character versions are much more common.

照片 = zhao(4)pian(4) = a photo, a portait

照相 = zhao(4) xiang(4) = to take pictures

相 = xiang(4) = appearance (of a person)

Please note that this character can also be spoken in the first tone, and then means 'each other'. 

拍照 = pai(1)zhao(4) = a photo, to take a picture

拍 = pai(1) = to tap, to shoot (a photo)

The character 照 is part of many words that relate to identity documents and licences.

护照 = hu(4)zhao(4) = passport

执照 = zhi(2)zhao(4) = licence

驾驶执照 = jia(4)shi(3) zhi(2)zhao(4) = driving licence

执 = zhi(2) = to hold, to manage

The character can have so many other meanings, but it is practically not used alone.

牌照 = pai(3)zhao(4) = license plate