Chinese word

邀

Pronunciation

Pinyinyāo

Meaning

  • verbinvite

Example

他常常邀我去他家吃饭。tā cháng cháng yāo wǒ qù tā jiā chī fàn

He often invites me home for a meal.

Illustration for 邀 (invite)

More examples

她邀请我加入读书会。tā yāo qǐng wǒ jiā rù dú shū huì

She invited me to join the book club.

Core concept

Making room for another person in a destination or activity by calling that person to join.

Common phrases

  • 邀请参加会议yāo qǐng cān jiā huì yì

    invite to attend a meeting

  • 邀请吃饭yāo qǐng chī fàn

    invite to a meal

  • 邀请加入yāo qǐng jiā rù

    invite to join

Similar words

邀请yāo qǐng: Invite someone formally to attend an event or activity.
请qǐng: Politely ask someone to come along in everyday conversation.
约yuē: Agree with someone on when and where to meet.
招待zhāo dài: Welcome guests by providing a meal or other warm hospitality.

Definition in Chinese

以言语或动作邀请某人到自己所在处或参加某事。yǐ yán yǔ huò dòng zuò yāo qǐng mǒu rén dào zì jǐ suǒ zài chù huò cān jiā mǒu shì

Word origin

邀 (yāo, "invite") preserves the early idea of calling a person to come, which develops naturally into inviting someone to a place or shared activity.

Usage tips

  • The word suits both a planned event and an ordinary social visit, so it appears in everyday plans rather than only in formal invitations.

Other meanings

  • ask alongverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word