約

音読おんよみ: ヤク

訓読くんよみ: none *

画数かくすう: 9 strokes

部首ぶしゅ: 糸(いとへん)

Meaning

Promise, Approximately, Contract, Reduce — used to indicate approximation like “about” or “around.”


  • 約束やくそく — promise
  • 契約けいやく — contract, agreement
  • 予約よやく — reservation, booking
  • やく〜人 — approximately (~ people)
  • 簡約かんやく — simplification

The kanji 約 combines the radical 糸 (thread) with the phonetic component 勺 (しゃく), which gives the sound "やく". Originally associated with binding or tying, it evolved to mean “to promise,” “to reduce,” or “approximately” — concepts related to shortening, restricting, or defining.

明日あした約束やくそくがあります。
I have a promise (or an appointment) tomorrow.

やく 30人が 参加さんかしました。
About 30 people participated.

契約けいやくむすびました。
We signed a contract.

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