# 約

| 約 | U+7D04, &#32004; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-7D04 |
| ← 紃 [U+7D03] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 紅 → [U+7D05] |

## Translingual
### Han character

約 (Kangxi radical 120, 糸+3, 9 strokes, cangjie input 女火心戈 (VFPI) or 女火心一 (VFPM), four-corner 2792$_0$, composition ⿰糹勺)

#### Derived characters

* 喲(哟), 𡟅, 𢰹, 𤋢, 𧎒, 𧼿, 葯(药), 𦋥, 𦋩, 箹(𰩺)

#### References

* Kangxi Dictionary: page 915, character 21
* Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 27242
* Dae Jaweon: page 1343, character 7
* Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 5, page 3364, character 15
* Unihan data for U+7D04

## Chinese
### Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 約 :
| Warring States | Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han) | Liushutong (compiled in Ming) |
| Chu slip and silk script | Small seal script | Transcribed ancient scripts |
| | Old Chinese |
| 豹 | *preːwɢs |
| 趵 | *preːwɢs, *preːwɢ |
| 尥 | *breːw, *b·reːwɢs |
| 箹 | *ʔreːwɢs, *ʔreːwɢ |
| 杓 | *plew, *pʰlew, *bljewɢ, *pleːwɢ |
| 約 | *ʔlewɢs, *ʔlewɢ |
| 扚 | *pleːwʔ, *pleːwɢ |
| 釣 | *pleːwɢs |
| 瘹 | *teːwɢs |
| 芍 | *ɡleːwʔ, *spʰlewɢ, *pl'ewɢ, *bljewɢ, *pleːwɢ |
| 酌 | *pljewɢ |
| 灼 | *pljewɢ |
| 勺 | *pljewɢ, *bljewɢ |
| 彴 | *pljewɢ |
| 犳 | *pljewɢ |
| 妁 | *pljewɢ, *bljewɢ |
| 汋 | *bljewɢ, *sbreːwɢ |
| 仢 | *bljewɢ |
| 葯 | *qlewɢ, *qreːwɢ |
| 礿 | *lewɢ |
| 肑 | *preːwɢ, *pleːwɢ |
| 瓝 | *breːwɢ |
| 的 | *pleːwɢ |
| 靮 | *pleːwɢ |
| 馰 | *pleːwɢ |
| 玓 | *pleːwɢ |
| 魡 | *pleːwɢ |
Phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声, OC *ʔlewɢs, *ʔlewɢ): semantic 糸 (“rope”) + phonetic 勺 (OC *pljewɢ, *bljewɢ).

### Pronunciation 1

* Mandarin
    (Standard)
       (Pinyin): yuē, yāo (yue$^1$, yao$^1$)
       (Zhuyin): ㄩㄝ, ㄧㄠ
    (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): yuo$^2$
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): joek$^3$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): yiak$^2$ / yiak$^1$
* Gan (Wiktionary): ioh$^6$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): yok
    (Hailu, HRS): rhog
    (Meixian, Guangdong): yog$^5$
* Jin (Wiktionary): yeh$^4$
* Northern Min (KCR): iŏ̤
* Eastern Min (BUC): iók / ióh
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): yoh$^6$ / yeh$^6$ / ieo$^5$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): iok / iak / ioh
    (Teochew, Peng'im): iag$^4$ / ioh$^4$ / iêh$^4$
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^7$iaq
* Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): io$^6$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: yuē
*** Zhuyin: ㄩㄝ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: yue
*** Wade–Giles: yüeh$^1$
*** Yale: ywē
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: iue
*** Palladius: юэ (jue)
*** Sinological IPA : /ɥɛ⁵⁵/
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: yāo
*** Zhuyin: ㄧㄠ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: yao
*** Wade–Giles: yao$^1$
*** Yale: yāu
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: iau
*** Palladius: яо (jao)
*** Sinological IPA : /jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/
** (Chengdu)
*** Sichuanese Pinyin: yuo$^2$
*** Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: iuo
*** Sinological IPA : /yo²¹/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: joek$^3$
*** Yale: yeuk
*** Cantonese Pinyin: joek$^8$
*** Guangdong Romanization: yêg$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /jœːk̚³/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: yiak$^2$ / yiak$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /jiak̚⁵⁵/, /jiak̚³³/
* Gan
** (Nanchang)
*** Wiktionary: ioh$^6$
*** Sinological IPA : /iɔʔ⁵/
* Hakka
** (Northern Sixian, incl. Miaoli)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: yok
*** Hakka Romanization System: iog$^ˋ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: yog$^5$
*** Sinological IPA: /i̯ok̚²/
** (Southern Sixian, incl. Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: yok
*** Hakka Romanization System: (r)iog$^ˋ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: yog$^5$
*** Sinological IPA: /(j)i̯ok̚²/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: rhog
*** Sinological IPA: /ʒok⁵/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: yog$^5$
*** Sinological IPA: /iɔk̚¹/
* Jin
** (Taiyuan)
*** Wiktionary: yeh$^4$
*** Sinological IPA (old-style): /yəʔ²/
* Northern Min
** (Jian'ou)
*** Kienning Colloquial Romanized: iŏ̤
*** Sinological IPA : /iɔ²⁴/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: iók / ióh
*** Sinological IPA : /yɔʔ²⁴/, /yɔʔ²⁴/
* iók - literary;
* ióh - vernacular.
* Dialectal data
| Variety | Location | edit約 |
| Mandarin | Beijing | /yɛ⁵⁵/ |
| Mandarin | Harbin | /iau⁴⁴/ /yɛ⁴⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Tianjin | /ye²¹/ |
| Mandarin | Jinan | /yə²¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Qingdao | /yə⁵⁵/ |
| Mandarin | Zhengzhou | /yo²⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Xi'an | /yo²¹/ |
| Mandarin | Xining | /yu⁴⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Yinchuan | /ye¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Lanzhou | /yə¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Ürümqi | /yɤ²¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Wuhan | /io²¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Chengdu | /yo³¹/ |
| Mandarin | Guiyang | /io²¹/ |
| Mandarin | Kunming | /io³¹/ |
| Mandarin | Nanjing | /ioʔ⁵/ |
| Mandarin | Hefei | /yɐʔ⁵/ |
| Jin | Taiyuan | /yəʔ²/ |
| Jin | Pingyao | /yʌʔ¹³/ |
| Jin | Hohhot | /yaʔ⁴³/ 大～ /iɔ³¹/ ～一～ |
| Wu | Shanghai | /iaʔ⁵/ |
| Wu | Suzhou | /iɑʔ⁵/ |
| Wu | Hangzhou | /ʔiɑʔ⁵/ |
| Wu | Wenzhou | /j̠a²¹³/ |
| Hui | Shexian | /iɔʔ²¹/ |
| Hui | Tunxi | /io⁵/ |
| Xiang | Changsha | /io²⁴/ |
| Xiang | Xiangtan | /io²⁴/ |
| Gan | Nanchang | /iɔʔ⁵/ |
| Hakka | Meixian | /iok̚¹/ |
| Hakka | Taoyuan | /ʒok̚⁵⁵/ |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | /jœk̚²/ |
| Cantonese | Nanning | /jœk̚³³/ |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | /jœk̚²/ |
| Min | Xiamen (Hokkien) | /iɔk̚³²/ /ioʔ³²/ |
| Min | Fuzhou (Eastern Min) | /yɔʔ²³/ |
| Min | Jian'ou (Northern Min) | /iɔ²⁴/ |
| Min | Shantou (Teochew) | /iak̚²/ /ioʔ²/ |
| Min | Haikou (Hainanese) | /iɔk̚⁵/ |
* Middle Chinese: 'jak
Rime :
| Character | 約 |
| Reading # | 2/2 |
| Initial (聲) | 影 (34) |
| Final (韻) | 藥 (107) |
| Tone (調) | Checked (Ø) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 於略切 |
| Baxter | 'jak |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /ʔɨɐk̚/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /ʔiɐk̚/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /ʔiɑk̚/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /ʔɨak̚/ |
| Li Rong | /ʔiak̚/ |
| Wang Li | /ĭak̚/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /ʔi̯ak̚/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | yue |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | joek$^3$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*[q](r)ewk/
    (Zhengzhang): /*ʔlewɢ/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 約 |
| Reading # | 2/2 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | yuē |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ ʔjak › |
| Old Chinese | /*[q](r)ewk/ |
| English | bind (v.), make an agreement |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 約 |
| Reading # | 2/2 |
| No. | 11201 |
| Phonetic component | 勺 |
| Rime group | 藥 |
| Rime subdivision | 2 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 約 |
| Old Chinese | /*ʔlewɢ/ |

#### Definitions

約
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) to bundle up; to bind
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) rope; cord
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) to restrain; to limit; to keep under control
* to make an appointment; to arrange
* appointment; meeting; arrangement
* treaty; agreement; covenant; pact; contract
* to invite or ask in advance
       Wǒ xiǎng yuē nǐ míngtiān yīqǐ qù chīfàn, bù zhīdào nǐ yǒu méiyǒu shíjiān. [Pinyin]
       I'd like to invite you out to have a meal tomorrow, if you have the time.
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) to hinder; to block
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) to save; to economise
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) frugal; economical; thrifty
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) brief; concise; succinct
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) poor; humble; low-ranking
* (mathematics) to reduce (a fraction)
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) to prepare; to equip
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) to seek; to pursue
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) to estimate; to approximate; to reckon
* (colloquial) to weigh (on a balance or scale)
* about; approximately
    約220大卡／约220大卡 ― yuē 220 dàkǎ ― Approximately 220 kilocalories.
* (Hong Kong, historical) district (of the City of Victoria)
    四環九約／四环九约 [Cantonese] ― sei$^3$ waan$^4$ gau$^2$ joek$^3$ [Jyutping] ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)
* (Hong Kong, historical) pact, group of villages (clarification of this definition is needed)
    大埔七約／大埔七约 [Cantonese] ― daai$^6$ bou$^3$ cat$^1$ joek$^3$ [Jyutping] ― the seven village groups of Tai Po

#### Compounds

* 不平等條約 / 不平等条约 (bùpíngděng tiáoyuē)
* 不約而同 / 不约而同 (bùyuē'értóng)
* 不約而合 / 不约而合
* 丰姿綽約 / 丰姿绰约
* 丰神綽約 / 丰神绰约
* 主契約 / 主契约
* 九國公約 / 九国公约
* 人約黃昏 / 人约黄昏
* 伊犁條約 / 伊犁条约
* 依約 / 依约 (yīyuē)
* 借約 / 借约 (jièyuē)
* 儉約 / 俭约 (jiǎnyuē)
* 公約 / 公约 (gōngyuē)
* 公約數 / 公约数
* 制約 / 制约 (zhìyuē)
* 制約刺激 / 制约刺激
* 制約反應 / 制约反应
* 勞動契約 / 劳动契约
* 北京條約 / 北京条约
* 協約 / 协约 (xiéyuē)
* 協約國 / 协约国 (Xiéyuēguó)
* 南京條約 / 南京条约
* 博文約禮 / 博文约礼 (bówényuēlǐ)
* 厲行節約 / 厉行节约 (lìxíngjiéyuē)
* 友好條約 / 友好条约
* 合約 / 合约 (héyuē)
* 和平條約 / 和平条约 (hépíng tiáoyuē)
* 和約 / 和约 (héyuē)
* 商約 / 商约
* 售貨合約 / 售货合约
* 單務契約 / 单务契约
* 團體協約 / 团体协约
* 基礎條約 / 基础条约
* 大信不約 / 大信不约
* 大約 / 大约 (dàyuē)
* 太空條約 / 太空条约
* 失約 / 失约 (shīyuē)
* 契約 / 契约 (qìyuē)
* 契約書 / 契约书 (qìyuēshū)
* 契約說 / 契约说
* 契約農業 / 契约农业
* 如約 / 如约 (rúyuē)
* 婥約 / 婥约
* 婉約 / 婉约
* 婚約 / 婚约 (hūnyuē)
* 婉約派 / 婉约派
* 守約 / 守约 (shǒuyuē)
* 守約施博 / 守约施博
* 定約 / 定约 (dìngyuē)
* 密約 / 密约 (mìyuē)
* 對等條約 / 对等条约
* 履約 / 履约 (lǚyuē)
* 工作契約 / 工作契约
* 巴黎和約 / 巴黎和约
* 幽期密約 / 幽期密约
* 廣州和約 / 广州和约
* 廢約 / 废约
* 彴約 / 彴约
* 從約 / 从约
* 成約 / 成约 (chéngyuē)
* 承攬契約 / 承揽契约
* 括約肌 / 括约肌 (kuòyuējī)
* 換約 / 换约
* 文約 / 文约
* 新約全書 / 新约全书 (Xīnyuē Quánshū)
* 月約星期 / 月约星期
* 有償契約 / 有偿契约
* 有名契約 / 有名契约
* 有約在先 / 有约在先
* 期約 / 期约
* 桑中之約 / 桑中之约
* 條約 / 条约 (tiáoyuē)
* 死亡約會 / 死亡约会
* 死約會 / 死约会
* 毀約 / 毁约 (huǐyuē)
* 洛桑公約 / 洛桑公约
* 無償契約 / 无偿契约
* 燕約鶯期 / 燕约莺期
* 爽約 / 爽约 (shuǎngyuē)
* 特約 / 特约 (tèyuē)
* 特約商店 / 特约商店
* 特約演員 / 特约演员
* 璦琿條約 / 瑷珲条约
* 由博返約 / 由博返约
* 界約 / 界约
* 畔約 / 畔约
* 盟約 / 盟约 (méngyuē)
* 相約 / 相约 (xiāngyuē)
* 破約 / 破约 (pòyuē)
* 租約 / 租约 (zūyuē)
* 租賃契約 / 租赁契约
* 稿約 / 稿约
* 穿鼻草約 / 穿鼻草约
* 窨約 / 窨约
* 立約 / 立约 (lìyuē)
* 節約 / 节约 (jiéyuē)
* 節約能源 / 节约能源
* 管約 / 管约
* 簡約 / 简约 (jiǎnyuē)
* 簽約 / 签约 (qiānyuē)
* 約克夏 / 约克夏
* 約克夏豬 / 约克夏猪 (yuēkèxià zhū)
* 約分 / 约分 (yuēfēn)
* 約分數 / 约分数
* 約同 / 约同
* 約定 / 约定 (yuēdìng)
* 約定俗成 / 约定俗成 (yuēdìngsúchéng)
* 約從 / 约从
* 約指 / 约指 (yuēzhǐ)
* 約拿書 / 约拿书 (Yuēnáshū)
* 約據 / 约据
* 約數 / 约数 (yuēshù)
* 約旦 / 约旦 (Yuēdàn)
* 約旦河 / 约旦河 (Yuēdànhé)
* 約會 / 约会 (yuēhuì)
* 約期 / 约期 (yuēqī)
* 約束 / 约束 (yuēshù)
* 約法 / 约法 (yuēfǎ)
* 約法三章 / 约法三章 (yuēfǎsānzhāng)
* 約瑟夫 / 约瑟夫 (Yuēsèfū)
* 約略 / 约略 (yuēlüè)
* 約約 / 约约
* 約翰 / 约翰 (Yuēhàn)
* 約翰牛 / 约翰牛
* 約翰福音 / 约翰福音 (Yuēhàn Fúyīn)
* 約翰遜 / 约翰逊 (Yuēhànxùn)
* 約莫 / 约莫 (yuēmo)
* 約見 / 约见 (yuējiàn)
* 約言 / 约言
* 約計 / 约计
* 約談 / 约谈 (yuētán)
* 約請 / 约请 (yuēqǐng)
* 約迭 / 约迭
* 約集 / 约集
* 約章 / 约章 (yuēzhāng)
* 紐約 / 纽约 (Niǔyuē)
* 紐約州 / 纽约州
* 紐約影展 / 纽约影展
* 結約 / 结约
* 綽約 / 绰约 (chuòyuē)
* 綽約多姿 / 绰约多姿
* 締約 / 缔约 (dìyuē)
* 締約國 / 缔约国
* 續約 / 续约 (xùyuē)
* 罰約 / 罚约
* 背約 / 背约 (bèiyuē)
* 舊約 / 旧约 (jiùyuē)
* 舊約全書 / 旧约全书 (Jiùyuē Quánshū)
* 花約 / 花约
* 草約 / 草约 (cǎoyuē)
* 華沙公約 / 华沙公约
* 萎約 / 萎约 (wěiyuē)
* 虎門條約 / 虎门条约
* 處約 / 处约
* 補約 / 补约
* 要約 / 要约
* 要約人 / 要约人
* 規約 / 规约 (guīyuē)
* 解約 / 解约 (jiěyuē)
* 訂約 / 订约 (dìngyuē)
* 誓約 / 誓约 (shìyuē)
* 變約 / 变约
* 負約 / 负约 (fùyuē)
* 赴約 / 赴约 (fùyuē)
* 踐約 / 践约 (jiànyuē)
* 辛丑和約 / 辛丑和约
* 通商條約 / 通商条约
* 違信背約 / 违信背约
* 違約 / 违约 (wéiyuē)
* 違約交割 / 违约交割
* 違約金 / 违约金 (wéiyuējīn)
* 邀約 / 邀约 (yāoyuē)
* 鄉約 / 乡约
* 隨意契約 / 随意契约
* 隱約 / 隐约 (yǐnyuē)
* 雙務契約 / 双务契约
* 雞黍之約 / 鸡黍之约
* 雨約雲期 / 雨约云期
* 非戰公約 / 非战公约
* 預約 / 预约 (yùyuē)
* 風姿綽約 / 风姿绰约
* 馬關條約 / 马关条约 (Mǎguān Tiáoyuē)
* 黃埔條約 / 黄埔条约

#### Descendants

* → Vietnamese: ước (約)

### Pronunciation 2

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): yào (yao$^4$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄧㄠˋ
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: yào
*** Zhuyin: ㄧㄠˋ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: yào
*** Wade–Giles: yao$^4$
*** Yale: yàu
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: yaw
*** Palladius: яо (jao)
*** Sinological IPA : /jɑʊ̯⁵¹/
* Middle Chinese: 'jiewH
Rime :
| Character | 約 |
| Reading # | 1/2 |
| Initial (聲) | 影 (34) |
| Final (韻) | 宵 (91) |
| Tone (調) | Departing (H) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 於笑切 |
| Baxter | 'jiewH |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /ʔiᴇu$^H$/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /ʔiɛu$^H$/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /ʔjæu$^H$/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /ʔiaw$^H$/ |
| Li Rong | /ʔiɛu$^H$/ |
| Wang Li | /ĭɛu$^H$/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /ʔi̯ɛu$^H$/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | yào |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | jiu$^3$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*[q]ewk-s/
    (Zhengzhang): /*ʔlewɢs/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 約 |
| Reading # | 1/2 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | yào |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ ʔjiew$^H$ › |
| Old Chinese | /*[q]ewk-s/ |
| English | bond, agreement (n.) |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 約 |
| Reading # | 1/2 |
| No. | 11181 |
| Phonetic component | 勺 |
| Rime group | 豹 |
| Rime subdivision | 2 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 要 |
| Old Chinese | /*ʔlewɢs/ |

#### Definitions

約
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) Alternative form of 要 (yào, “gist; essentials”)

### Pronunciation 3

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): dì (di$^4$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄉㄧˋ
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: dì
*** Zhuyin: ㄉㄧˋ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: dì
*** Wade–Giles: ti$^4$
*** Yale: dì
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: dih
*** Palladius: ди (di)
*** Sinological IPA : /ti⁵¹/

#### Definitions

約
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) cord for the string of a stringed instrument

### References

* “約”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–

## Japanese
### Kanji

(Fourth grade kyōiku kanji)
* contract, promise
* to contract, to shorten
* approximately, roughly

#### Readings

* Go-on: やく (yaku, Jōyō)、よう (yō)
* Kan-on: やく (yaku, Jōyō)、よう (yō)
* Kun: つづまやか (tsuzumayaka, 約やか)、つづめる (tsuzumeru, 約める)

#### Compounds

* 一(いち)約(やく) (ichiyaku)
* 契(けい)約(やく) (keiyaku): contract, agreement
* 条(じょう)約(やく) (jōyaku): treaty
* 予(よ)約(やく) (yoyaku): reservation, appointment
* 約(やく)束(そく) (yakusoku): promise
* Kanji in this term
* 約
* やく Grade: 4
* on'yomi

### Pronunciation

* (Tokyo) やく [yáꜜkù] (Atamadaka –)
* IPA: [ja̠kɯ̟]

### Adverb

約(やく) • (yaku)
* about, approximately
    約(やく)一(いっ)ヶ月(げつ)
       yaku iggagetsu
       approximately one month
    宇宙(うちゅう)の直径(ちょっけい)は約(やく) ９３０(きゅうひゃくさんじゅう)億(おく)光年(こうねん)だ。
       Uchū no chokkei wa yaku kyūhyakusanjū-oku kōnen da.
       The diameter of the universe is some 93 billion light years.

### References

* ↑ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
* ↑ NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN

## Korean
### Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Middle Korean readings, if any”)

### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [ja̠k̚]
* Phonetic hangul: [약]

### Hanja

Wikisource 約 (eumhun 맺을 약 (maejeul yak))
* hanja form of 약 (“contract, promise”)
* hanja form of 약 (“approximately, roughly”)

#### Compounds

* 계약 (契約, gyeyak, “contract”)
* 약속 (約束, yaksok, “promise”)
* 예약 (豫約, yeyak, “reservation”)

## Vietnamese
### Chữ Hán

約: Hán Việt readings: ước, yêu
* chữ Hán form of ước (“contract, promise”).
* chữ Hán form of ước (“approximately, roughly”).
* chữ Hán form of ước (“to wish”).