Japanese word

誘う

Pronunciation

Romajisasou

Meaning

  • verbinvite

Example

今度、友達を家に誘います。kon do tomo dachi o ie ni saso i ma su

I will invite my friend to my house next time.

Illustration for 誘う (invite)

More examples

友だちを公園に誘います。tomo da chi o kō en ni saso i ma su

I invite my friend to the park.

友達を映画に誘いました。tomo dachi o ei ga ni saso i ma shi ta

I invited my friend to a movie.

Core concept

Centers on asking someone to join an activity or come to a place with the speaker.

Common phrases

  • 人を誘うhito o saso u

    invite someone

  • 食事に誘うshoku ji ni saso u

    invite someone to a meal

  • 遊びに誘うaso bi ni saso u

    invite someone to hang out

Similar words

招待するshōtaisuru: To formally ask someone to attend an event or come to a place.
呼ぶyobu: To ask someone to come to a particular place, often by calling them.

Definition in Japanese

人に来てもらうよう頼んだり、いっしょに行動するよう勧めたりすること。hito ni ki te mo ra u yō tano n da ri i ssho ni kō dō su ru yō susu me ta ri su ru ko to

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 誘う (sasō, "invite") is the modern form of 誘ふ (sasō), an older verb meaning to invite or entice.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 誘う (sasō) covers both inviting someone to an event and asking someone to come along, while 招待する (shōtai suru) often sounds more formal.

Other meanings

  • take alongverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 誘いsasoiinvitationnoun
  • 誘い方sasoikataway of invitingnoun

Word lists with this word