誘(さそ)い

さそい
noun
invitation, enticement
communication
See also: 誘(さそ)う (verb form)
1. invitation, offer to join
An invitation or suggestion to do something together, such as going out, participating in an activity, or joining a group. Casual and personal in tone.
友達(ともだち)の誘(さそ)いを断(ことわ)った。
I turned down my friend's invitation.
彼(かれ)の誘(さそ)いに乗(の)って映画(えいが)を見(み)に行(い)った。
I took him up on his invitation and went to see a movie.
誘(さそ)いを受(う)けたが、予定(よてい)があったので丁寧(ていねい)にお断(ことわ)りした。
I received the invitation, but since I had plans, I politely declined.
2. enticement, lure, temptation
Something that attracts or tempts a person, drawing them toward an action or state. Can refer to both positive attraction and manipulative luring.
眠(ねむ)りの誘(さそ)い。
The lure of sleep.
甘(あま)い誘(さそ)いには気(き)をつけなさい。
Be careful of sweet enticements.
春(はる)の暖(あたた)かい陽気(ようき)が外出(がいしゅつ)への誘(さそ)いになった。
The warm spring weather became an enticement to go outside.

Common collocations

Usage

This is the noun form of 誘(さそ)う (to invite, to lure). Sense 1 (invitation) is common in daily life. Sense 2 (enticement/temptation) is more literary or atmospheric. The compound 誘(さそ)い水(みず) literally means 'priming water' and figuratively means 'a catalyst' or 'an inducement.'

Related Words

Related: 招待(しょうたい) (invitation (formal))
general
Added 2026.2.28 11:21 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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