yāo

to invite

HSK 7

Character Breakdown

Usage of ''

The character '' primarily means 'to invite' or 'to welcome.' It is often used in formal or semi-formal contexts such as inviting someone to an event, a meeting, or a gathering.

Common Collocations

  • 邀请 (yāoqǐng): to invite — the most common collocation, used for inviting people to parties, meetings, or events.
  • 邀请 (yāoqǐnghán): invitation letter — formal written invitation.
  • 邀请参加 (yāoqǐng cānjiā): invite to participate — often used in professional or academic contexts.

Notes

When using ',' the tone is polite and respectful, suitable for invitations that require some formality. It differs from '' (qǐng), which can be more casual or used for requests. Avoid confusing '' with '' (yāoyuē), which emphasizes making an appointment or date.

In sentences, '' is usually followed by '' or '' to soften the invitation, but it can stand alone in compound verbs like '邀请.'

Example Sentences

他邀请我参加他的生日派对。

Tā yāoqǐng wǒ cānjiā tā de shēngrì pàiduì.

He invited me to his birthday party.

公司邀请了专家来做讲座。

Gōngsī yāoqǐngle zhuānjiā lái zuò jiǎngzuò.

The company invited an expert to give a lecture.

我们应该邀请更多朋友一起去旅行。

Wǒmen yīnggāi yāoqǐng gèng duō péngyǒu yīqǐ qù lǚxíng.

We should invite more friends to travel together.