Kanji 約: "promise, approximately, shrink"

Stroke order

Strokes are written in the order of the numbers. The order is not decorative: it is what gives the character its balance, and it is also how handwriting search works in Japanese dictionaries.

Readings

In a kun'yomi reading, the dot separates the kanji from its okurigana: かた.る is read かたる and written 語る. A hyphen marks a bound position, like -び in 日.

At a glance

Common words with 約

The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.

• 約やく束そくpromise; agreement; arrangement; one's word · appointment; engagement; date
• 契けい約やくcontract; compact; agreement
• 約やくapproximately; about · promise; appointment; engagement
• 婚こん約やくengagement; betrothal
• 予よ約やくreservation; appointment; booking; advance order · contract; subscription; pledge
• お約やく束そくpromise; agreement; arrangement; one's word · something expected or predictable (e.g. running gag); typical or clichéd development (in a story); something considered obligatory or guaranteed (in a certain situation)
• 婚こん約やく者しゃfiance; fiancee
• 節せつ約やくsaving (e.g. time, money, resources); economising; economizing
• 約やく束そくを守まもるto keep a promise; to keep one's word
• 約やく束そく通どおりas promised
• 制せい約やくlimitation; restriction; condition; constraints
• 契けい約やく書しょ(written) contract; agreement

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