Meanings of 約
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About 約
Podcast: 約
Podcast: 約
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AI Study Notes for 約
契 (qì) vs 合同 (hétong) — use 約 (yuē) for informal agreements or promises, while 契 (qì) emphasizes formal contracts, and 合同 (hétong) specifically refers to business contracts.
Be careful not to confuse 約 with similar-sounding words like 约定 (yuēdìng), which means a specific agreement or appointment. This word is typically used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include 約會 (yuēhuì, to date) and 約定 (yuēdìng, to arrange).
While 約 is not classified under a specific HSK level, it is essential for learners at an intermediate level to connect it with other related terms like 约定 (yuēdìng) and 约会 (yuēhuì). Focus on practicing its use in sentences, especially in formal contexts.
Learners often confuse 約 with other similar characters, such as 约定 (yuēdìng). For example, saying '我约定明天见面' instead of '我约明天见面' can be incorrect if the emphasis is simply on the agreement itself rather than the specifics.
Pronunciation of 約
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Etymology of 約
Simplified form of 約. Phonosemantic compound. 糹 represents the meaning and 勺 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "to bind". The meaning later shifted to "restrain", "keep under control", "appointment", and "approximately".
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Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 約
Simplified form of 約. Phonosemantic compound. 糹 represents the meaning and 勺 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "to bind". The meaning later shifted to "restrain", "keep under control", "appointment", and "approximately".
- 1The meaning half糹 carries the sense.
- 2The giveawaythread
- 3On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 約? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 約
Identify the Components
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How to say treaty, covenant, agreement in Chinese
“treaty, covenant, agreement” in Chinese is約
The character 約 (yuē) refers to a treaty, covenant, or agreement between parties. It is commonly used in legal, formal, and social contexts to indicate a binding commitment. This word often appears in discussions of contracts or promises, emphasizing the importance of mutual consent.
When to use 約
Be careful not to confuse 約 with similar-sounding words like 约定 (yuēdìng), which means a specific agreement or appointment. This word is typically used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include 約會 (yuēhuì, to date) and 約定 (yuēdìng, to arrange).
約 or something close to it
契 (qì) vs 合同 (hétong) — use 約 (yuē) for informal agreements or promises, while 契 (qì) emphasizes formal contracts, and 合同 (hétong) specifically refers to business contracts.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 約 with other similar characters, such as 约定 (yuēdìng). For example, saying '我约定明天见面' instead of '我约明天见面' can be incorrect if the emphasis is simply on the agreement itself rather than the specifics.
Write 約
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Practice writing 約 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 約
Compound Meaning
What does 约 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 約
You can say '我们约好明天见面' (Wǒmen yuē hǎo míngtiān jiànmiàn), meaning 'We agreed to meet tomorrow.'
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