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.
友達の誘いを断った。
I turned down my friend's invitation.
彼の誘いに乗って映画を見に行った。
I took him up on his invitation and went to see a movie.
誘いを受けたが、予定があったので丁寧にお断りした。
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.
眠りの誘い。
The lure of sleep.
甘い誘いには気をつけなさい。
Be careful of sweet enticements.
春の暖かい陽気が外出への誘いになった。
The warm spring weather became an enticement to go outside.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 誘いに乗る: to accept an invitation
- 誘いを断る: to decline an invitation
- 誘いを受ける: to receive an invitation
- 甘い誘い: a sweet/tempting enticement
- 誘い水: water used to prime a pump; something that triggers further action
USAGE:
This is the noun form of 誘う (to invite, to lure). Sense 1 (invitation) is common in daily life. Sense 2 (enticement/temptation) is more literary or atmospheric. The compound 誘い水 literally means 'priming water' and figuratively means 'a catalyst' or 'an inducement.'