约 yuē — agree, bind · English

约

yuē

agree, bind

At a glance · 约

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

小篆从糸（糹）勺声，形声字，本指缠束、约束。隶楷作「約」，简化作「约」。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「约」本指以绳束缚，引申为约定、简约。

Structure

形声字，糸（糹）为意符，勺为声符。

At a glance

Pinyinyuē

Radical纟

Strokes6

UnicodeU+7EA6

Character type形声

Theme政事

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English agree, bind To bind, restrain; an agreement; about.

Français lier, convenir Lier, restreindre; une convention; environ.

Español atar, convenir Atar, restringir; un acuerdo; unos.

العربية يتفق، يقيد يتفق أو يقيد أو حوالي.

Русский связывать, договариваться Связывать, ограничивать; договор, соглашение; около.

Common words

约束yuē shùrestrain
约定yuē dìngagree

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