Meaning

Primary

To Beckon

Alternatives

To Invite, To Cause

Word Type

transitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

Because the hiragana ends with an sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means beckon so the verb vocab version is to beckon.

Since 招く conjures up the image of someone beckoning, it also means to invite, and is a relatively formal word. Figuratively, it can also mean to cause, as in inviting some undesirable outcome or situation.

Reading

まねく
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you: You move to beckon your friend over. You can't see him well, so that's why you invite him to come closer. He is hiding something, and it turns out to be his long, luxurious horse mane (まね). Why does he have a mane!? Horse steroids?

Context

Context Sentences

死者の霊魂を招く歌を作ってみた。

I wrote a song to summon the spirits of the dead.

Kanji Composition