Chinese word

约

Pronunciation

Pinyinyuē

Meaning

  • verbinvite

Example

我想约你下周一起吃饭。wǒ xiǎng yuē nǐ xià zhōu yì qǐ chī fàn

I want to invite you to dinner next week.

Illustration for 约 (invite)

More examples

他们在电话里约了下周见面。tā men zài diàn huà lǐ yuē le xià zhōu jiàn miàn

They arranged by phone to meet next week.

Core concept

A planned meeting or shared activity is brought into agreement between people.

Common phrases

  • 约吃饭yuē chī fàn

    invite out to eat

  • 约见面yuē jiàn miàn

    arrange to meet

  • 约好yuē hǎo

    agree on

Similar words

见面jiàn miàn: Meet someone in person.
邀请yāo qǐng: Ask someone to come to or join an event or activity.
安排ān pái: Organize the time, method, or details of an activity or task.
预约yù yuē: Book a service or meeting time in advance.

Definition in Chinese

提出与他人商定见面或共同活动的安排，侧重于发起邀请或安排会面。tí chū yǔ tā rén shāng dìng jiàn miàn huò gòng tóng huó dòng de ān pái cè zhòng yú fā qǐ yāo qǐng huò ān pái huì miàn

Word origin

约 (yuē, "arrange") is simplified from 約 (yuē, "arrange"); 纟 (sī, "silk") suggests binding, while 勺 (sháo, "spoon") supplies the sound, supporting the sense of making an arrangement.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, the invited person commonly follows the verb, and a later time, place, or activity completes the plan.

Other meanings

  • make an appointmentverb
  • aboutadverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word