Japanese word

招く

Pronunciation

Romajimaneku

Meaning

  • verbinvite

Example

友達を家に招きます。tomo dachi o ie ni mane ki ma su

I invite a friend to my home.

Illustration for 招く (invite)

More examples

卒業のお祝いに親戚を招きました。sotsu gyō no o iwa i ni shin seki o mane ki ma shi ta

I invited my relatives to a graduation celebration.

Core concept

Expresses creating an occasion for someone to come to a place or join an event as a guest.

Common phrases

  • 家に招くie ni mane ku

    invite someone home

  • 人を招くhito o mane ku

    invite someone

  • パーティーに招くpā tī ni mane ku

    invite someone to a party

Similar words

誘うsasou: To ask another person to take part in an activity or go somewhere together.
招待するshōtaisuru: To ask someone to attend an event or visit a place as a guest in a formal way.
呼ぶyobu: To ask someone to come to a particular place.

Definition in Japanese

人を自分のいる所や催しなどに来るように誘う。hito o ji bun no i ru tokoro ya moyō shi na do ni ku ru yō ni saso u

Word origin

招く (maneku) is a native Japanese verb that originally described beckoning someone to come, a physical action that extends naturally to inviting someone.

Usage tips

  • Japanese uses 招く (maneku) not only for inviting people but also in 招き猫 (manekineko), whose raised paw is associated with beckoning good fortune.

Other meanings

  • askverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word