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Kotomora

招

beckon, invite, summon, engage

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • ショウ

Kun'yomi

  • まね.く

Meaning

招 centers on calling someone to come or participate: beckoning with a gesture, inviting, summoning, or engaging someone's attention or service.

Most common words using 招

20 of 42
  • 招待しょうたい
    N4

    invitation

  • 招くまねく
    N3

    to invite; to ask

  • 招集しょうしゅう

    call; summons; convening; convocation

  • 招致しょうち
    N4

    invitation; summons; bidding (e.g. to host the Olympics); calling

  • 招聘しょうへい

    (courteous) invitation; call

  • 招き猫まねきねこ

    beckoning cat; figure of a cat with one paw raised (usu. white porcelain)

  • 招待客しょうたいきゃく

    invitee

  • 招きまねき
    N1

    invitation

  • 手招きてまねき

    beckoning

  • 招き入れるまねきいれる

    to invite in; to show someone in

  • 招福しょうふく

    good luck charm; something that encourages or invites good luck

  • 招来しょうらい

    invitation; bringing over

  • 招請しょうせい

    invitation

  • 招魂しょうこん

    invocation of the spirits of the dead

  • 不招請勧誘ふしょうせいかんゆう

    unsolicited promotion

  • 参考人招致さんこうにんしょうち

    requesting the testimony of an unsworn witness (who is not bound by perjury law)

  • 国会招致こっかいしょうち

    summons to appear before the Diet

  • 差し招くさしまねく

    to beckon (to); to invite

  • 手招くてまねく

    to beckon

  • 招かれざる客まねかれざるきゃく

    uninvited guest

Explore all words using 招 →

Study

Etymology

招 combines 扌 (hand) with 召, which likely contributes both sound and the idea of calling or summoning. The hand radical reinforces the gesture of beckoning.

Meaning mnemonic

The hand 扌 beside 召 suggests a hand motion calling someone over. Picture a hand beckoning: 招 is to invite or summon.

Reading mnemonic

For ショウ, imagine a show host beckoning the audience to come closer: show -> ショウ, and the hand gesture invites them in.