Definitions

zhāo (verb) to beckon; to wave to
zhāo (verb) to recruit; to hire
zhāo (verb) to provoke; to incur
zhāo (noun) technique; move; maneuver
zhāo (verb,adjective) to infect; contagious

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

About

招 is a phono-semantic compound with the hand radical 扌 on the left, indicating a manual action, and 召 on the right, which provides the pronunciation and a related semantic idea of calling. Its core meaning is the physical gesture of beckoning with the hand to call someone over. This literal sense of drawing someone in naturally broadened to mean recruiting personnel, enlisting participants, or attracting customers. It can also denote a specific martial arts move or a clever tactical trick.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他向我手问好。

Tā xiàng wǒ zhāo shǒu wèn hǎo.

He waved to me to say hello.

这家公司聘程序员。

Zhè jiā gōngsī zhāopìn chéngxù yuán.

This company is recruiting programmers.

妈妈待客人喝茶。

Māma zhāodài kèrén hē chá.

Mom serves tea to guests.

这个广告来不少顾客。

Zhège guǎnggào zhāo lái bùshǎo gùkè.

This advertisement attracted quite a few customers.

工启事贴在墙上。

Zhāogōng qǐshì tiē zài qiáng shàng.

The job recruitment notice is posted on the wall.

他的新数很有效果。

Tā de xīn zhāoshù hěn yǒu xiàoguǒ.

His new move is very effective.

公司考职员的要求很高。

Gōngsī zhāokǎo zhíyuán de yāoqiú hěn gāo.

The company's requirements for recruiting staff are very high.

领失物的公告已经发出。

Zhāolǐng shīwù de gōnggào yǐjīng fāchū.

The announcement for claiming lost property has been issued.