# 約 promise/ roughly speaking

糸 (string) + (promise)
★★★★★
9 strokes
JERK
JERK； When used in a jukugo, it means "promise", but when used as a SUFFIX、it means "roughly speaking" . . . . although suffixes are always part of a jukugo, aren't they? So it is hard to tell the difference.

## Onyomi

YAKU |

## Mnemonic

| I promise to keep the YAK on the string, and not let it run away like last time.

## Kunyomi

やく ( XXX に or で ) | roughly speaking. Ish. 約9yards。 約3 days。 PRE ★★★★★

## Jukugo

約束(やくそく) | promise ★★★★★ 約 (promise/ roughly speaking) + 束 (bundle of sticks) = 約束 (promise)
予約(よやく) | reservation ★★★★☆ 予 (beforehand) + 約 (promise/ roughly speaking) = 予約 (reservation) reservation, appointment
婚約(こんやく) | marriage engagement ★★☆☆☆ 婚 (marriage) + 約 (promise/ roughly speaking) = 婚約 (marriage engagement)
条約(じょうやく) | a treaty or pact ☆☆☆☆☆ 条 (clause) + 約 (promise/ roughly speaking) = 条約 (a treaty or pact)

## Lookalikes

| Meaning | Hint | Radical
--- | --- | --- | ---
約 | promise/ roughly speaking | STRING | 糸
的 | motivation / '-al' | WHITE | 白

Tie a STRING round your finger to remember this promise:

The motivation of the Revolution is to get WHITEY.

## Synonyms

summary つまりxxxx 要約 要はxxx
vow 約束 誓う 契り 誓約書