Definition
招 (zhāo) is a versatile verb with three core meanings: to recruit/hire, to attract/incur (often negative), and to beckon/wave. For recruiting, it is broader than the specific compounds 招聘 (formal job recruitment) and 招收 (recruiting employees or students). For beckoning, it is the single-character equivalent of 招手 (the full verb); for provoking negative outcomes, it contrasts with 惹, which emphasizes irritating someone personally.
verb
to recruitto hireto provoketo incurto attract (often negative)to beckonto wave (one's hand)
Easily confused
- 着zháosound-alike(verb complement) to succeed in doing, to come into a state (in 睡着, 找着, 着火)
- 找zhǎosound-aliketo look for, to seek
- 照zhàosound-aliketo shine on, to illuminate
- 罩zhàosound-aliketo cover, to envelop
Examples
- 招。Wǒmen gōngsī jīnnián zhāo le hěn duō rén.Our company recruited many people this year.
- 。Tā zhèyàng zuò huì zhāo lái máfan.Doing this will incur trouble.
- 。Tā zài chēzhàn xiàng wǒ zhāo shǒu.She waved to me at the station.
Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.