招揽

• Pinyin: zhāo lǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 招 = 扌 + 召 (beckoning); 揽 = 扌 + 览 (to gather with hands)

Meaning

To solicit; to drum up business; to attract customers or talent.

Active effort to attract business, customers, or personnel. Common in commerce and recruitment. Collocations: 招揽顾客 (attract customers), 招揽生意 (drum up business), 招揽人才 (recruit talent). Can have slightly aggressive connotation.

Examples

1. 商家在门口招揽顾客，推销打折商品。 The shop owners stood at the entrance drumming up customers and pitching discounted products.
2. 这家猎头公司专门为企业招揽高端人才。 This headhunting firm specializes in attracting top-tier talent for companies.
3. 旅游区的小贩积极招揽过往的游客。 Vendors in the tourist area actively solicited passing tourists.

Usage Guide

Context: business, commerce, recruitment

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 公司通过提高薪资待遇来招揽行业内的顶尖人才。(The company attracts top talent in the industry by offering higher salaries and benefits.)
• 店主站在门口热情招揽路过的客人进店选购。(The shop owner stood at the door enthusiastically soliciting passersby to come in and shop.)

Don't Say

• 招揽朋友 — 招揽 implies commercial interest; for making friends use 结交 or 交

Origin & History

招 (to beckon) + 揽 (to gather/embrace)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal