徠 (lái) - To encourage & to induce

徠Tone 2

lái ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

徠 · lái

To encourage;

to induce;

to come;

to arrive;

to recruit;

to beckon.

To encourageto induceto come

Usage highlights

Recruit talentAttract businessBeckon to comeInduce investmentWelcome guestsSolicit customers

Synonyms

  • 招— to recruit; to beckon
  • 引— to lead; to attract
  • 邀— to invite

Antonyms

  • 拒— to refuse; to reject
  • 逐— to expel; to drive away

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The company recruits talented employees (招聘人才).
  • The policy aims to attract foreign investment (招商引资).
  • He beckoned for us to come closer (招手让我们徠).
  • The government offers tax incentives (税收优惠) to encourage business development.

Collocations

  • Recruit talent(招徠人才)
  • Attract business(招徠生意)
  • Beckon to come(招徠)
  • Induce investment(徠资)
  • Welcome guests(徠宾)
  • Solicit customers(徠客)

Idioms

  • To curry favor(阿谀奉徠)
  • To attract customers from far and wide(招徠远客)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted 'coming' or 'arriving', with the 'go' radical (彳) indicating movement.
  • In modern usage, often appears in commercial contexts meaning 'to solicit' or 'to attract' business.
  • The character appears in classical texts describing the act of summoning or inviting.

FAQ