Japanese symbol for “subpoena”
召喚
しょうかん
Romaji: shoukan
summons; subpoena; citation
In Japanese, subpoena is 召喚, read しょうかん (shoukan).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n, vs, vt summons; subpoena; citation (law)
- n, vs, vt summoning (a spirit, demon, etc.); evocation; invocation
Written forms: 召喚、招喚. Readings: しょうかん.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “subpoena”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 召喚状 | しょうかんじょう shoukanjou | (writ of) summons; subpoena; citation |
| 証人喚問 | しょうにんかんもん shouninkanmon | summoning of a sworn witness (court, Diet); subpoena |
| 呼び出し状 | よびだしじょう yobidashijou | (writ of) summons; subpoena |
| 出頭命令 | しゅっとうめいれい shuttoumeirei | summons; subpoena |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 召集 | しょうしゅう shoushuu | convening; calling together (e.g. parliament); call-up (for military service) |
| 召す | めす mesu | to call; to summon; to send for |
| 応召 | おうしょう oushou | responding to a call-up for military service; answering a call-up |
| 召し | めし meshi | summons; call |
| 召還 | しょうかん shoukan | recall (esp. of an envoy or an ambassador); calling someone back; summons (home) |
| 喚問 | かんもん kanmon | summons |
| 喚起 | かんき kanki | arousal; excitation; awakening |
| 喚く | わめく wameku | to shout; to cry (out); to yell |
See also: Chinese symbol for “subpoena”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.