邀 (yāo) — to invite; to intercept; to seek; to solicit
Definition
邀 is a formal verb 'to invite / to solicit,' almost always paired with an object (邀我, 邀功). Compared with 请, it is more formal/written; vs 邀请 it is the single-char root used in compounds like 特邀 and 应邀.
verb
to inviteto interceptto seekto solicit
Easily confused
Examples
- 邀。Tā yāo wǒ cān jiā tā de shēng rì wǎn huì.He invited me to attend his birthday party.
- 邀。Tā yāo zhù le zhèng yào lí kāi de kè rén.He intercepted the guest who was about to leave.
- 。Tā zài huì yì shàng yāo gōng.He sought credit at the meeting.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
敫
敫jiǎo邀yāo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
邀 pairs 辶, a walking part, with 敫, which gives the sound.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.