Pinyin "zhao3"

In MandarinBanana's mnemonic system, the Pinyin syllable "zhao3" is split up into two parts: "zh" and "ao3". You can visit the Pinyin index to see how other Pinyin syllables are split up into initials and finals.

Mnemonics for Pinyin initial "zh"

Zh is for James II of England (詹姆斯二世, zhān​mǔ​sī èr​shì).

Mnemonics for Pinyin final "ao3"

In the aorta's living room.

Characters pronounced zhao3

爫
zhǎo = zh + ao3
"claw" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 87)
Mnemonic symbol: the strokes of this character remind me of a smiling mouth over a beard; thus, I'll represent it by an electric razor. James II of England (zh) uses his electric razor (爫) to shave his beard in the aorta's living room (ao3).
找
zhǎo = zh + ao3
to try to find / to look for / to call on sb / to find / to seek / to return / to give change
找 = 戈 + 扌 : James II of England (zh) is looking for (找) his keys in the aorta's living room (ao3). He uses a toy claw (扌) to lift up a spear (戈) and see if the keys are under there.
爪
zhǎo = zh + ao3
foot of a bird or animal / paw / claws / talons
沼
zhǎo = zh + ao3
pond / pool
沼 = 召 + 氵 : James II of England (zh) calls everyone together via intercom (召) to gather in the aorta's living room (ao3). He introduces his latest policy to build a pool (沼) in the aorta. As a symbolic start he opens a bottle of water (氵) and pours it on the floor.