Difference between sasou, maneku, shotaisuru

Hi guys,

I don't understand the difference between sasou, maneku, and shoutaisuru. I ask my friend, and he said that sasou is less formal than the other two. I feel like sasou is when someone asks you to go somewhere together, immediately, like going to eat at a restaurant. Shoutai suru is when someone invites you to a party in the next few days. Not sure what maneku is, though...

Can someone explain this to me clearly?
Thanks in advance! :)

Isn't that what dictionaries are for?

Are you trying to be funny? Of course I used the dictionary, and it says they all mean to invite.

This is difficult to explain.

If you use a Japanese-English dictionary, all three Japanese words translate to "to invite". However, the usage is different. I am not sure if I can explain it fully, but I will try my best.

sasou (誘う) is used in more casual settings, but there is no limit on time element (can be immediate, or next week etc.). Perhaps because casual social gatherings tend to be decided impulsively, it may be frequently associated with invitation of spur-of-the-moment type.

shotaisuru (招待する) is more formal than sasou, like inviting to a wedding or birthday party.

maneku (招く) is more formal than sasou, similar to shotaisuru, but often (not always) used for invitation of non-human kind (e.g., invitation of fortunes or happiness etc.; 金運を招く、幸福を招く). Sasou and shotaisuru are never used in this non-human sense.

Don't mind firas. He doesn't play well with others.

The Japanese language has limited verbs compared with English and modifiers are used to describe different situations.
sasou (誘う) is, as Kanji is written, to lure someone to something.
shotaisuru (招待する) is to formally request, invite, etc. someone to come to attend something.
maneku (招く) is to request, to invite, etc. someone for something

sasou - is more casual than the other two, more like "ask (someone out) to do something," to "get someone interested" to do something. So asking someone out to go to a movie, or on a date, would be described by this verb. But as described by an earlier poster, it doesn't say immediately or anything about the timing.

maneku - you invite, or you beckon (something/someone). You know the "beckoning cat" dolls, "maneki neko"? They beckon/call on good luck to come over to you :) Also when someone invites you over to their home party, upon arrival you might say: "O-maneki arigatou gozaimasu." (The first part is a more polite form that comes from "maneku.")

shoutai suru - is to formally request someone's attendance. You would not really use it in your casual speech; you might receive a "shoutai jou" (invitation letter/card) to a friend's wedding party for example.

I think the most important difference is about money.
When you use "shotaisuru" or "maneku" to Japanese, he may think you pay all.
"sasou" is more casual verb and has a nuance of "ask to do something TOGATHER". He'll pay for himself at least.