約 meaning and stroke order
Treaty, covenant, agreement
How to write 約, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Meaning of 約
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to weigh in a balance or on a scale
- to make an appointment
- to invite
- approximately
- pact
- treaty
- to economize
How 約 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Thread.
糹 gives the meaning.
Radical: 糹 (silk), shared by 126 characters on this site.
How to remember 約
約 is built from 糹 (silk thread) on the left and 勺 on the right. Picture tying a thread around something to bind it, like a promise that ties two people together in an agreement.
約 (yuē) is the traditional form of 约, used in Taiwan and Hong Kong. It covers making plans with someone, agreements and contracts, and the meaning "about" before numbers. Example: 我們約好明天見。(Wǒmen yuē hǎo míngtiān jiàn.) We agreed to meet tomorrow.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 約 with 的 (de), since both have 勺 on the right. Remember that 約 has the thread radical 糹 and 的 has 白 on the left.
Common words with 約
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 大約 | dàyuē | approximately; probably | HSK 3 |
| 節約 | jiéyuē | to economize; to conserve (resources) | HSK 3 |
| 約會 | yuēhuì | appointment; engagement | HSK 4 |
| 簽約 | qiānyuē | to sign a contract or agreement | HSK 5 |
| 約束 | yuēshù | to restrict; to limit to | HSK 5 |
| 制約 | zhìyuē | to restrict; condition | HSK 5 |
| 約定 | yuēdìng | to agree on sth (after discussion); to conclude a bargain | HSK 6 |
| 預約 | yùyuē | booking; reservation | HSK 6 |
| 合約 | héyuē | contract; agreement | HSK 6 |
| 契約 | qìyuē | agreement; contract | HSK 7-9 |
| 條約 | tiáoyuē | treaty; pact | HSK 7-9 |
| 隱約 | yǐnyuē | vague; faint; indistinct | HSK 7-9 |
| 違約 | wéiyuē | to break a promise; to violate an agreement | HSK 7-9 |
| 公約 | gōngyuē | convention (i.e. international agreement) | HSK 7-9 |
Characters that contain 約
Learning 約 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 約
How many strokes are in 約?
約 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 約 mean?
約 (yuē) means treaty, covenant, agreement. A common word with it is 大约 (dàyuē), meaning "approximately; probably".
How do you pronounce 約?
約 is pronounced yuē, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 約?
The radical of 約 is 糹, which carries the idea of "silk". Dictionaries list 約 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 約?
約 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 约, used in mainland China and Singapore.
How do I say "about" or "approximately" with 約?
Put 約 or 大約 (dàyuē) before a number, as in 大約十分鐘 (dàyuē shí fēnzhōng), about ten minutes. 約 alone sounds more formal or written.
Is 約會 only used for romantic dates?
約會 (yuēhuì) often means a date in everyday speech, but it can also mean any appointment. For bookings at a doctor or restaurant, people usually say 預約 (yùyuē).