Word
Kana: しょうたい Romaji: shoutai Level: N4

招待

Meaning in English

invitation, being invited

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What it means

招待 means an invitation to attend or join an event; as a noun it denotes the invitation itself, while with する it forms the verb 招待する meaning to invite someone.

Main meanings

  • invitation: the message or document inviting someone to participate in an event
  • the act of inviting: the action of inviting someone, formed when used with する
  • contexts of hospitality and formal events where a host extends welcome

How to use it

Used in formal or semi-formal settings to denote inviting someone to attend events, ceremonies, or meetings. It appears with 招待する to form the verb; common in invitations, guest lists, and official communications. Not typical in casual texting alone; preferred in polite language and written invitations.

Variants and close terms

  • 招待状 — しょうたいじょう (invitation letter)
  • お招き — おまねき (invitation, being invited)
  • 招待客 — しょうたいきゃく (invited guest)
  • 招待する — しょうたいする (to invite)

Composition

  • 招: inviting, beckoning; the act of calling someone to come
  • 待: waiting; the idea of awaiting a guest
  • Together they express inviting someone to come and participate, i.e., an invitation

Etymology

招 (to beckon) + 待 (to wait) combine as a Sino-Japanese compound with on'yomi readings しょう and たい, giving the pronunciation shōtai.

Word class

Noun; suru-verb (招待する)

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