Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
招zhāo(zhao1)
The character 招 (zhāo) primarily means 'to recruit' or 'to beckon.' It is commonly used in contexts such as job recruitment or inviting someone over. Additionally, it can imply provoking or incurring something, like an infection, making it versatile in its usage.
Strokes8Radical扌Frequency#1618DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In modern Chinese society, 招 (zhāo) is frequently seen in job postings and recruitment advertisements, reflecting the competitive job market. Understanding its usage is crucial for anyone looking to work in China.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person standing on a street corner, waving their arms to 招 (zhāo) people over for a job (recruitment). The character has a radical that resembles a person (亻), emphasizing the action of calling or summoning someone.
Meanings of 招
zhāo(zhao1)
1to recruit
2to provoke
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 招 means.
About 招
招Simplified
8Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1618Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 招
Podcast: 招
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 招
Quick Contrast
招 (zhāo, to recruit/beckon) vs 叫 (jiào, to call) — use 招 when referring to recruiting or inviting someone over, while 叫 is more about calling someone or something.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 招 (zhāo) with similar characters like 召 (zhào), which also means 'to summon' but has a more formal tone. It's often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of the tone when using it in conversation to avoid misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 招 (zhāo) is not an HSK level word, its meaning connects with words related to recruitment and invitation, which are relevant at HSK 3 and above. Focus on using it in sentences related to job searching or social invitations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 招 (zhāo) with 召 (zhào), leading to incorrect meanings in sentences. For example, saying '我召人' instead of '我招人' can imply a more formal or official summoning rather than recruiting.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 招
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 招 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 招 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 招?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 招 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 招 (zhāo) primarily means 'to recruit' or 'to beckon.' It is commonly used in contexts such as job recruitment or inviting someone over. Additionally, it can imply provoking or incurring something, like an infection, making it versatile in its usage.
When to use 招
Be careful not to confuse 招 (zhāo) with similar characters like 召 (zhào), which also means 'to summon' but has a more formal tone. It's often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of the tone when using it in conversation to avoid misunderstandings.
招 or something close to it
招 (zhāo, to recruit/beckon) vs 叫 (jiào, to call) — use 招 when referring to recruiting or inviting someone over, while 叫 is more about calling someone or something.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 招 (zhāo) with 召 (zhào), leading to incorrect meanings in sentences. For example, saying '我召人' instead of '我招人' can imply a more formal or official summoning rather than recruiting.
Write 招
招
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 招 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 招
招 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 12 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.
Marlette was already out of the door, flagging down a taxi.
6
他最近承办了一次总统招待会的宴席。
tā zuì jìn chéng bàn le yī cì zǒng tǒng zhāo dài huì de yàn xí。
He recently did the catering for a presidential reception.
7
我们那时在同一所学院，当时只招男生。
wǒ mén nà shí zài tóng yī suǒ xué yuàn， ， dāng shí zhī zhāo nán。
We were in the same college, which was male-only at that time.
8
他在阿姆斯特丹的记者招待会上发表了意见。
tā zài ā mǔ sī tè dān de jì zhě zhāo dài huì shàng fā biǎo le yì jiàn。
He made his comments at a news conference in Amsterdam.
9
他是少数几个知道招揽观众的演员之一。
tā shì shǎo shù jī gè zhī dào zhāo lǎn guān zhòng de yǎn yuán zhī yī。
He is one of the few players who puts bums on seats.
10
他将失明的双眼转向他们，低声打了个招呼。
tā jiāng shī míng de shuāng yǎn zhuǎn xiàng tā mén， ， dī shēng dǎ le gè zhāo。
He turned his sightless eyes their way and boomed out a greeting.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 招?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
Cultural Notes for 招
💡Did you know?
招 is often associated with military language in Chinese culture, reflecting the historical importance of recruitments and strategies in warfare. The character itself suggests a call to action, reminiscent of ancient battle cries.
Word Family of 招
Words Containing This Character20
招zhāoto recruit
招呼zhāohuto greet
招生zhāoshēngto get students
招聘zhāopìnto recruit
打招呼dǎzhāohuto give prior notice
招待zhāodàito entertain
招商investment promotion
招标zhāobiāoto invite bids招標
招募zhāomùto recruit
招牌zhāopaisignboard
招供to confess
招待会zhāodàihuìreception招待會
招收zhāoshōuto hire
花招trick
招数zhāoshùgambit招數
招商引资investment promotion招商引資
招惹to provoke
招手zhāoshǒuto wave
耍花招to play tricks on sb
招聘会job fair招聘會
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 招
What does 招呼 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 招
Common phrases include 招聘 (zhāo pìn), meaning 'to recruit', and 招待 (zhāo dài), which means 'to entertain or host'. These phrases illustrate the versatility of 招 in different contexts.
招 (zhāo) generally refers to recruiting or beckoning, while 叫 (jiào) means to call or shout. Understanding the nuances can help you choose the right word depending on the situation.
招 (zhāo) can mean to recruit, provoke, beckon, incur, or infect. It is often used in contexts related to hiring or inviting someone, as well as in situations where something undesirable is provoked or attracted.
招 can be used in various contexts. For example, 招人 (zhāo rén) means 'to recruit people', while 招手 (zhāo shǒu) means 'to beckon'. Understanding the context will help in using this character correctly.
招 can mean to recruit, beckon, provoke, or even confess, depending on the context.
You can say '我在招人' (I am recruiting people) or '她招手叫我' (She beckoned me with her hand).
Yes, 招 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but ensure to match the tone of your conversation.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 招?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.
A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.
