10 Japanese Words for Invitations and Gatherings | Essential N3 Vocabulary (招待, 誘う, 参加, etc.)

Key takeaways

Here are 10 essential N3 words frequently used when inviting someone to a Japanese gathering or event.

We will compare the nuanced differences between similar words like '誘う', '招く', and '呼ぶ'.

Includes practical example sentences that you can immediately use in real-life conversations and emails.

How this bundle was curated

Core meaning

In what situations are these words used?

We've gathered essential vocabulary frequently used in various gathering-related situations, from casually asking a friend or colleague to hang out, to formally inviting someone to an official event.

All items at a glance

10 Essential Words for Invitations and Gatherings
Word	Reading	Meaning
招待	しょうたい	invitation
招待状	しょうたいじょう	invitation card
誘う	さそう	to invite (casually)
招く	まねく	to invite (politely)
呼ぶ	よぶ	to call / to invite
来る	くる	to come
参加	さんか	participation
出席	しゅっせき	attendance
歓迎	かんげい	welcome
パーティー	パーティー	party

Item by item

招待

Reading: しょうたい

invitation

Primarily used when inviting guests to formal or official occasions.

Example 1

結婚式に友人を招待した。

けっこんしきにゆうじんをしょうたいした。

Kekkonshiki ni yuujin o shoutaishita.

Translation

I invited a friend to my wedding.

招待状

Reading: しょうたいじょう

invitation card

Refers to a letter or card sent to invite someone to an event or gathering.

Example 1

パーティーの招待状が届きました。

パーティーのしょうたいじょうがとどきました。

Paatii no shoutaijou ga todokimashita.

Translation

The party invitation has arrived.

誘う

Reading: さそう

to invite (casually)

The most natural word to use when casually asking someone close to you, like a friend or colleague, to do something together.

Example 1

友達を映画に誘う。

ともだちをえいがにさそう。

Tomodachi o eiga ni sasou.

Translation

I ask a friend out to a movie.

招く

Reading: まねく

to invite (politely)

Used when politely inviting a guest to your home or an event. It is similar to '招待する' but has a slightly more literary or formal feel.

Example 1

先生を家に招いて食事をした。

せんせいをいえにまねいてしょくじをした。

Sensei o ie ni maneite shokuji o shita.

Translation

I invited my teacher to my house for a meal.

呼ぶ

Reading: よぶ

to call / to invite

Widely used when calling someone's name or having someone come over. Also frequently used when inviting someone to a casual gathering.

Example 1

週末、友達を家に呼んで遊んだ。

しゅうまつ、ともだちをいえによんであそんだ。

Shuumatsu, tomodachi o ie ni yonde asonda.

Translation

I invited a friend over to my house to hang out over the weekend.

来る

Reading: くる

to come

Indicates that the other person is moving to where you are. Often used when asking if someone will attend a gathering.

Example 1

明日の飲み会、来る？

あしたののみかい、くる？

Ashita no nomikai, kuru?

Translation

Are you coming to tomorrow's drinking party?

参加

Reading: さんか

participation

Means to join a gathering, event, or group as a member.

Example 1

ボランティア活動に参加する。

ボランティアかつどうにさんかする。

Borantia katsudou ni sanka suru.

Translation

I participate in volunteer activities.

出席

Reading: しゅっせき

attendance

Means to be present at a designated place such as a meeting, class, or wedding. It often carries a more obligatory or formal nuance than '参加'.

Example 1

明日の会議には出席します。

あしたのかいぎにはしゅっせきします。

Ashita no kaigi ni wa shusseki shimasu.

Translation

I will attend tomorrow's meeting.

歓迎

Reading: かんげい

welcome

Means to gladly receive a newcomer. Frequently used in contexts like a welcome party for new employees (歓迎会).

Example 1

新入社員を歓迎する。

しんにゅうしゃいんをかんげいする。

Shinnyuushain o kangei suru.

Translation

To welcome a new employee.

パーティー

Reading: パーティー

party

Refers to a fun gathering such as a birthday party or Christmas party.

Example 1

週末に誕生日パーティーを開く。

しゅうまつにたんじょうびパーティーをひらく。

Shuumatsu ni tanjoubi paatii o hiraku.

Translation

I will throw a birthday party this weekend.

Practice with examples

Example 1

今度の週末、パーティーを開くので来ませんか？

こんどのしゅうまつ、パーティーをひらくのできませんか？

Kondo no shuumatsu, paatii o hiraku node kimasen ka?

Translation

I'm throwing a party this weekend, would you like to come?

Example 2

彼を食事に誘ったが、都合が悪いと言われた。

かれをしょくじにさそったが、つごうがわるいといわれた。

Kare o shokuji ni sasotta ga, tsugou ga warui to iwareta.

Translation

I asked him out for a meal, but he said he was unavailable.

Example 3

会議に出席できない場合は、事前に連絡してください。

かいぎにしゅっせきできないばあいは、じぜんにれんらくしてください。

Kaigi ni shusseki dekinai baai wa, jizen ni renraku shite kudasai.

Translation

If you cannot attend the meeting, please contact us in advance.

How to decide when unsure

When you're unsure

When casually asking a friend or colleague to grab a meal or watch a movie, generally use '誘う' (sasou). Using '招待する' (shoutai suru) in this context can sound overly grand and unnatural.
'参加' (sanka) carries the nuance of joining an event or activity as a participant, while '出席' (shusseki) has a stronger nuance of being present at an official, designated place like a meeting, class, or wedding.
When inviting someone to your home, it is generally natural to use '呼ぶ' (yobu) for casual relationships, and '招く' (maneku) if you want to treat them more politely as a guest.

Common mistakes

Using '招待する' when asking a friend to grab a meal

If you use '招待する' when asking a close friend to have lunch together, it sounds unnatural, as if you are hosting a grand banquet. For casual invitations, it is more natural to use '誘う'.

Wrong example: 友達を昼ごはんに招待した。/Correct example: 友達を昼ごはんに誘った。

However, if it is a wedding or a formal party, '招待する' is appropriate.

Mini quiz

Which of the following is the most natural word to use when asking a close friend to go see a movie over the weekend?

One-line summary

In a nutshell

Try communicating in natural Japanese by appropriately using these invitation and gathering-related words according to the situation!

FAQ

What is the difference between '招く' (maneku) and '呼ぶ' (yobu)?

Both words mean to have someone come over, but '招く' carries a strong nuance of politely inviting someone as a guest to entertain them. On the other hand, '呼ぶ' can be used more broadly, whether simply calling out to someone or casually having a friend come over to your house.

Can '参加' (sanka) and '出席' (shusseki) be used interchangeably?

While they can be interchangeable depending on the context, there is a difference in nuance. '参加' has a strong feeling of joining an activity like a marathon or volunteering, whereas '出席' has a strong feeling of being present at a designated place like a meeting or class.