What is the primary meaning of 邀?

Its primary meaning is 'to invite' or 'to solicit', as in the common word 邀请 (yāoqǐng).

Is 邀 commonly used in personal names?

It is not extremely common but can be used to convey a sense of grace, sociability, or poetic elegance, as in the classical motif of 'inviting the moon' (邀月).

Are there any negative associations with this character?

Yes, in certain historical and idiomatic contexts, it can carry a negative connotation of obsequiously seeking favor or credit, such as in 邀功 (yāogōng, to seek credit for oneself) or 邀宠 (yāochǒng, to curry favor).

邀Tone 1

yāo ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

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邀 · yāo

To invite;

to solicit;

to request the presence or participation of someone;

to seek or strive for something.

To inviteto solicitto request the presence or participation of someone

Usage highlights

To inviteTo solicit opinionsTo request an interviewTo enjoy the moonTo seek meritTo solicit favor

Synonyms

请— to request; to invite
招— to beckon; to recruit
聘— to engage; to employ

Antonyms

拒— to refuse
辞— to decline

Usage & contexts

Examples

I invited him to the party (邀请他参加聚会).
The company is seeking investment (邀投资).
She was invited to give a speech (邀她演讲).
We went out to enjoy the moonlight (邀月).

Collocations

To invite(邀请)
To solicit opinions(邀意见)
To request an interview(邀访)
To enjoy the moon(邀月)
To seek merit(邀功)
To solicit favor(邀宠)

Idioms

Pandering to gain favor(邀功请赏)
Inviting criticism or trouble(邀买人心)
To curry favor(邀功求赏)

Cultural background

FAQ

The character appears in classical poetry, such as the romantic notion of 'inviting the moon' (邀月) to share a drink.
Historically used in contexts of seeking recognition or merit, sometimes with a negative connotation of obsequiousness.
In modern usage, it is most commonly associated with the neutral term for 'invitation' (邀请).

邀 (yāo) - To invite & to solicit