约 meaning and stroke order
To make an appointment; to invite; approximately
How to write 约, stroke by stroke
6 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
Meaning of 约
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to make an appointment
- to invite
- approximately
- pact
- treaty
- to economize
- to weigh in a balance or on a scale
How 约 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Thread.
纟 gives the meaning.
Radical: 纟 (silk), shared by 143 characters on this site.
How to remember 约
约 is built from 纟 (thread) and 勺. Picture tying a thread around something to bind it, the way an agreement binds two people together.
约 often means to make plans with someone or to set an agreement, as in 约会 (yuēhuì) and 签约 (qiānyuē). It also means "about" before numbers, usually as 大约 (dàyuē). Example: 我约了朋友吃饭。(Wǒ yuē le péngyou chī fàn.) I made plans to eat with a friend.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 约 with 的 (de) and 钓 (diào), which share the 勺 part but have different left sides. Remember that 约 takes the thread radical 纟 because it is about binding agreements.
Common words with 约
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 大约 | dàyuē | approximately; probably | HSK 3 |
| 节约 | jiéyuē | to economize; to conserve (resources) | HSK 3 |
| 约会 | yuēhuì | appointment; engagement | HSK 4 |
| 签约 | qiānyuē | to sign a contract or agreement | HSK 5 |
| 约束 | yuēshù | to restrict; to limit to | HSK 5 |
| 制约 | zhìyuē | to restrict; condition | HSK 5 |
| 约定 | yuēdìng | to agree on sth (after discussion); to conclude a bargain | HSK 6 |
| 预约 | yùyuē | booking; reservation | HSK 6 |
| 合约 | héyuē | contract; agreement | HSK 6 |
| 契约 | qìyuē | agreement; contract | HSK 7-9 |
| 条约 | tiáoyuē | treaty; pact | HSK 7-9 |
| 隐约 | yǐnyuē | vague; faint; indistinct | HSK 7-9 |
| 违约 | wéiyuē | to break a promise; to violate an agreement | HSK 7-9 |
| 公约 | gōngyuē | convention (i.e. international agreement) | HSK 7-9 |
约 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 约
Learning 约 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 约
How many strokes are in 约?
约 is written with 6 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 约 mean?
约 (yuē) means to make an appointment; to invite; approximately. A common word with it is 大约 (dàyuē), meaning "approximately; probably".
How do you pronounce 约?
约 is pronounced yuē, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 约?
The radical of 约 is 纟, which carries the idea of "silk". Dictionaries list 约 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 约?
The traditional form of 约 is 約. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 约 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 约 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 约 is part of the HSK 3 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 约会 and 预约?
约会 (yuēhuì) is a meeting or date with a person, often romantic. 预约 (yùyuē) is booking ahead with a service, such as a doctor or restaurant.
When is 约 pronounced yāo?
The yāo reading means to weigh something on a scale. It is mostly heard in spoken northern Chinese, such as 约一约 (yāo yi yāo), "weigh it." In almost all other words it is yuē.