字 Kanji Decipher

Meaning & readings

entice, lead, tempt, invite, ask, call for, seduce, allure

On’yomi ユウ
Kun’yomi さそ.う、いざな.う

Origin

This character combines the radical for "words" or "speech" on the left, which signals that the character relates to language and communication, with a sound component on the right that hints at the pronunciation. The "words" element ties the meaning to the act of speaking or calling out to someone, which naturally connects to inviting, enticing, or leading someone through speech and persuasion. Together, the parts form a character representing the idea of using words to draw someone toward an action or idea—to tempt, invite, or lead them on.

誘 14 strokes

Components

  • 言 radical left
  • 秀 sound hint right

A sound hint component points at the character’s pronunciation, not its meaning — don’t read a meaning into it.

Common words

  • 勧誘 かんゆう invitation; solicitation
  • 誘い さそい invitation; introduction
  • 誘う さそう to invite; to ask (someone to do)
  • 誘因 ゆういん contributing cause; exciting cause
  • 誘拐 ゆうかい abduction; kidnapping
  • 誘致 ゆうち attraction; lure
  • 誘導 ゆうどう guidance; leading
  • 誘発 ゆうはつ inducing; causing

Related kanji

Same sound component 秀
Same radical

Reference

Strokes
14
Kangxi radical
149
Formation type
Phono-semantic (meaning + sound hint)
Grade
Jōyō (secondary school)
Frequency rank
#993 (newspapers)
Former JLPT
level 1
Unicode
U+08A98