招 means “invite, beckon”

まねく · maneku

Also: summon, engage

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

まねく

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ショウ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 5 · 8 strokes

The story

A hand (扌) waving as a voice summons (召): come this way. The 招き猫 in shop windows beckons customers with one raised paw, and a 招待状 is a formal invitation, perhaps to a wedding.

Used in 招待 (shoutai, invitation), 招く (maneku, to invite), and 招き猫 (manekineko, beckoning cat)

More from Manners & Welcome

• 御 honorable
• 礼 courtesy
• 頂 receive (humble)
• 式 ceremony
• 供 offer
• 訪 visit
• 助 help
• 申 say (humble)
• 様 honorific
• 迎 welcome
• 寄 drop by
• 頼 request

Learn 招 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.