誘う|さそうsasou[0]heiban (flat)
いざなうizanau[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto invite; to ask (someone to do); to call (for); to take (someone) along
- godan verb, transitive verbto tempt; to lure; to entice; to seduce
- godan verb, transitive verbto induce (tears, laughter, sleepiness, etc.); to arouse (e.g. sympathy); to provoke
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 誘う（さそう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 誘います（さそいます） |
| Negative (nai) | 誘わない（さそわない） |
| polite (masen) | 誘いません（さそいません） |
| classical zu / nu | 誘わず・誘わぬ（さそわず・さそわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 誘った（さそった） |
| polite (mashita) | 誘いました（さそいました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 誘わなかった（さそわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 誘いませんでした（さそいませんでした） |
| Te form | 誘って（さそって） |
| Potential | 誘える（さそえる） |
| Passive | 誘われる（さそわれる） |
| Causative | 誘わせる（さそわせる） |
| Causative passive | 誘わせられる・誘わされる（さそわせられる・さそわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 誘えば（さそえば） |
| tara | 誘ったら（さそったら） |
| Volitional | 誘おう（さそおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 誘いましょう（さそいましょう） |
| Imperative | 誘え（さそえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym誘い出すさそいだすNeutralInvites someone out or lures them out, emphasizing taking them somewhere; 「誘う」 is not restricted by direction.
- Synonym誘惑ゆうわくNeutralTemptation that pulls someone from their true intentions, as in 「甘いものの誘惑」; 「誘う」 is usually an ordinary invitation.
- Synonym仕向けるしむけるNeutralManeuvers someone into doing something, emphasizing steering them toward it; 「誘う」 centers on inviting and urging.
- Synonym引きつけるひきつけるNeutralAttracts attention or wins hearts, as in 「人を引きつける魅力」; 「誘う」 focuses on prompting action or stirring emotion.
- Synonym誘いかけるさそいかけるNeutralCalls out to someone to invite or urge them, stressing the act of speaking up; 「誘う」 is more broadly usable.
- Related誘引ゆういんWrittenWritten/formal prose: lures or attracts, often in biology or crime reporting, as in 「誘引剤」.
- Related誘導ゆうどうNeutralGuides someone in a direction, as in traffic control or leading questions; 「誘う」 centers on inviting or stirring emotions.
- Related促すうながすNeutralUrges or presses someone to act, as in 「注意を促す」; 「誘う」 is for invitations or arousing feelings.
- Related釣るつるNeutralOriginally means to fish; figuratively lures with rewards, carrying a negative nuance; 「誘う」 is mostly a neutral invitation.
- Related口説くくどくNeutralPersuades repeatedly or courts someone romantically, emphasizing winning them over; 「誘う」 broadly means inviting or urging.
- Related誘い込むさそいこむNeutralDraws someone into a group or a trap, emphasizing pulling them in; 「誘う」 broadly covers inviting and urging.
Use 「誘う」 for inviting someone, urging them to do something, or stirring emotions such as tears. For leading someone from their true intentions, say 「誘惑」; for urging action, 「促す」; for courting someone, 「口説く」; for attracting hearts, 「引きつける」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
