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March 24, 2026
邀yāo(yao1)
The character 邀 (yāo) primarily means 'to invite' or 'to request.' It is commonly used in contexts where one person invites another to an event or seeks someone's presence or participation. The character can also imply a sense of solicitation or intercepting someone's attention.
Strokes16Radical辶Frequency#6987DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, extending an invitation is often accompanied by rituals, such as offering tea or food, reflecting hospitality. The act of inviting someone is not just a formality but a sign of respect and relationship-building.
Memory Tip
Imagine a friendly host waving their hand in an inviting gesture, while saying 'yāo' to welcome guests. The top radical '阝' resembles a hill or a place, suggesting a location where the invitation takes place, while the bottom part '邀' sounds like 'yāo,' echoing the act of welcoming others.
Meanings of 邀
yāo(yao1)
1to invite
2to request
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 邀
邀Simplified
16Strokes
辶Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#6987Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 邀
Podcast: 邀
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AI Study Notes for 邀
Quick Contrast
邀请 (yāo qǐng) vs 邀请 (yāo qǐng) — use 邀 when emphasizing the act of inviting in a more casual or informal context.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a friendly host waving their hand in an inviting gesture, while saying 'yāo' to welcome guests. The top radical '阝' resembles a hill or a place, suggesting a location where the invitation takes place, while the bottom part '邀' sounds like 'yāo,' echoing the act of welcoming others.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 邀 with similar characters like 约 (yuē), which means 'to arrange' or 'to schedule.' It's important to use 邀 in contexts of invitation, while 约 is more about making plans. The tone is crucial; ensure to pronounce it with the first tone (yāo) to avoid confusion.
HSK Study Tips
Though 邀 is not included in the HSK levels, it is beneficial for learners focusing on interpersonal communication. Students should connect it with words like 请 (qǐng, to invite) and 约 (yuē, to arrange), as they are often used together in social contexts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, extending an invitation is often accompanied by rituals, such as offering tea or food, reflecting hospitality. The act of inviting someone is not just a formality but a sign of respect and relationship-building.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 邀 with 请 (qǐng) and use them interchangeably, as in '我请你来' instead of '我邀请你来.' Remember that 邀 focuses more on the act of inviting, while 请 can imply requesting a favor or service.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 邀
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Grammar Patterns of 邀
邀 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
There were wall-to-wall people, all invited guests and celebrities.
8
我邀请他回我的公寓喝杯咖啡。
wǒ yāo qǐng tā huí wǒ de gōng yù hē bēi kā fēi。
I invited him back to my flat for a coffee.
9
弗朗西丝邀请他们住在她家的楼上。
fú lǎng xī sī yāo qǐng tā mén zhù zài tā jiā de lóu shàng。
Frances invited them to occupy the upstairs of her home.
10
卢西恩·弗洛伊德已受邀为女王画肖像画。
lú xī ēn· · fú luò yī dé yǐ shòu yāo wéi nǚ wáng huà xiāo xiàng。
Lucian Freud has been asked to paint a portrait of the Queen.
Cultural Notes for 邀
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, inviting someone over is a sign of respect and friendship. It often involves sharing food and drinks, which plays a vital role in building relationships.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, extending an invitation is often accompanied by rituals, such as offering tea or food, reflecting hospitality. The act of inviting someone is not just a formality but a sign of respect and relationship-building.
Word Family of 邀
Words Containing This Character9
邀请yāoqǐngto invite邀請
邀yāoto invite
应邀yìngyāoon invitation應邀
邀请赛invitation tournament (e.g. between schools or firms)邀請賽
邀请函invitation letter邀請函
特邀tèyāospecial invitation
邀约to invite邀約
邀功to take the credit for sb's achievement
邀集to invite a group of people (to assemble for a gathering)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 邀请 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 邀
Some synonyms for 邀 (yāo) include 请 (qǐng), which means 'to invite' or 'to request,' and 约 (yuē), which means 'to make an appointment' or 'to invite.' These words can often be used interchangeably depending on the context of the invitation.
You should use 邀 (yāo) when you want to emphasize the act of inviting someone to a specific event, such as a party or ceremony. 请 (qǐng) is more general and can also be used for polite requests, so choose 邀 when the context is specifically about invitations.
邀 (yāo) means 'to invite' or 'to request.' It can also imply soliciting or seeking something from someone. This character is often used in contexts where one person is inviting another to an event or requesting their presence.
You can use 邀 (yāo) in a sentence like '我邀请你参加我的生日派对' (Wǒ yāo qǐng nǐ cānjiā wǒ de shēngrì pàiduì), which means 'I invite you to my birthday party.' It is typically used when extending an invitation to someone for an event or gathering.
You can say, '我想邀请你参加我的生日派对' (Wǒ xiǎng yāo qǐng nǐ cānjiā wǒ de shēngrì pàiduì), meaning 'I would like to invite you to my birthday party.'
Yes, 邀 is appropriate for both formal and informal invitations, but it may be more common in written contexts.
Synonyms include 请 (qǐng) and 约 (yuē), but be mindful of their specific usages.
