KanjiSchool
招
“invite / beckon” in Japanese is 招, read shou, mane (しょう, まね). It is a Grade 5 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 5 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 招待 (invitation).
Try it now
What does 招 mean?
Learn all 1,018 kanji with spaced-repetition review — free. Start free →
友だちを招く。
ともだちをまねく。I invite a friend.
Get unlimited AI example sentences + native audio + saved progress. Start free →
Unlock guided stroke order, scoring and daily streaks. Start free →
Full details, readings & example
| Kanji | 招 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | invite / beckon |
| Readings | しょう, まね |
| Grade | Grade 5 (Hard) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
| Example | 招待 (invitation) |
How to read 招
招 is read shou (しょう) or mane (まね) depending on the word.
Words with 招
- 招待
Learn 招 in real sentences — free
Read stories and news built from only the kanji you already know. KanjiSchool’s path covers all 2,136 Jōyō kanji — 1,018 ready to learn now.
Start free — no credit card →
Kanji read the same way as 招
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:
Read this character in a real sentence
Updated: 2026-08-28