約束 در ۳۰ ثانیه
- Means both 'promise' and 'appointment' in Japanese.
- Used for people and social commitments, not for booking places (use 'yoyaku' for that).
- Can be used as a noun (yakusoku ga aru) or a verb (yakusoku suru).
- Key verbs to pair with it: 'mamoru' (keep) and 'yaburu' (break).
The Japanese word 約束 (やくそく - yakusoku) is a fundamental noun that bridges the gap between personal integrity and social scheduling. For English speakers, understanding this word requires a slight mental shift because it encompasses two distinct English concepts: the moral 'promise' (a vow to do something) and the logistical 'appointment' (a scheduled meeting). In Japanese culture, these two ideas are deeply intertwined; failing to show up for a scheduled meeting is seen not just as a scheduling conflict, but as a breach of a personal promise. This reflects the high value placed on reliability and social harmony in Japan. Whether you are making a pinky swear with a child or setting up a coffee date with a colleague, yakusoku is the word you will use.
- The Moral Dimension
- When used as a 'promise,' it refers to a commitment made to oneself or others. It carries significant weight. In Japanese media, you will often hear characters talk about 'the promise of that day' (あの日の約束), implying a life-changing or deeply sentimental vow.
- The Practical Dimension
- When used as an 'appointment,' it refers to any pre-arranged meeting. However, it is important to note that it is used for people, not places. You have a yakusoku with a friend, but you have a yoyaku (reservation) for a hotel.
友達と映画に行く約束があります。(I have a promise/appointment to go to the movies with a friend.)
Etymologically, the word is composed of two kanji: 約 (yaku), which means 'to shorten,' 'to tighten,' or 'an agreement,' and 束 (soku), which means 'a bundle' or 'to tie.' Together, they create the image of 'tying down an agreement' or 'binding a contract.' This visual of binding is very helpful for memorization; a promise is something that binds your future actions. In modern Japan, the concept of keeping one's yakusoku is a cornerstone of business and social etiquette. Being late for a yakusoku is often interpreted as a lack of respect for the other person's time and personhood.
もう嘘をつかないと約束します。(I promise not to tell lies anymore.)
- Social Context
- In casual settings, breaking a promise is usually followed by a sincere apology and a 'gomen' (sorry). In formal settings, failing a yakusoku can lead to a loss of face and reputation.
Using 約束 (yakusoku) correctly involves understanding its role as both a noun and a Suru-verb. As a noun, it often appears with the existential verbs aru (to have/exist) or mamoru (to keep). As a verb, it describes the act of making the commitment itself. Let's look at the grammatical structures most commonly associated with this word.
- The 'Have' Construction
- To say 'I have an appointment' or 'I have a promise,' use the particle が (ga) followed by あります (arimasu). Example: Ashita wa yakusoku ga arimasu (I have an appointment tomorrow).
三時に先生と約束があります。(I have an appointment with my teacher at 3:00.)
When you want to specify what the promise is about, you can use the relative clause structure. Place the action before the word yakusoku. For example, 'the promise to meet' becomes au yakusoku. This is a very powerful way to describe complex arrangements in Japanese.
- The 'Keep/Break' Verbs
- Keeping a promise is 約束を守る (yakusoku o mamoru). Breaking a promise is 約束を破る (yakusoku o yaburu). These are fixed collocations that you should memorize together.
彼はいつも約束を守ります。(He always keeps his promises.)
ごめん、約束を忘れてた！(Sorry, I forgot our promise/appointment!)
Finally, consider the use of yakusoku in compound nouns. 約束の時間 (yakusoku no jikan) means 'the appointed time.' 約束の場所 (yakusoku no basho) means 'the agreed-upon place.' These phrases are essential for making plans and ensuring everyone is on the same page.
The word 約束 (yakusoku) is ubiquitous in Japanese life, appearing in contexts ranging from the most casual to the profoundly serious. Understanding these contexts will help you grasp the 'soul' of the word beyond its dictionary definition.
- In Daily Social Life
- You will hear this constantly when friends are making plans. 'Next Saturday, okay?' 'Yes, it's a promise/appointment (yakusoku ne!).' It acts as a verbal seal on a plan.
「明日、十時に駅でね。」「うん、約束だよ！」('Tomorrow at 10 at the station, okay?' 'Yeah, it's a promise!')
In the business world, yakusoku is used for meetings. While 'meeting' might be kaigi or uchiawase, the actual appointment time is referred to as yakusoku. If a client arrives, the receptionist might say, 'Do you have an appointment?' (O-yakusoku wa gozaimasu ka?). The honorific prefix 'O' is added here to show respect to the guest.
- In Pop Culture (Anime and Manga)
- Yakusoku is a massive trope in Japanese storytelling. Think of the 'childhood promise' where two characters vow to marry or meet again in the future. Title like 'The Promised Neverland' (Yakusoku no Neverland) use the word to create a sense of destiny or inescapable fate.
私たちはいつかまた会うと約束した。(We promised that we would meet again someday.)
Lastly, you'll hear it in schools. Teachers use it to establish classroom rules. 'Let's keep the classroom promises' (Kyoushitsu no yakusoku o mamorimashou). In this context, it translates more as 'rules' or 'agreements' that the group has decided to follow for the common good.
For English speakers, the most common mistakes with 約束 (yakusoku) stem from the fact that English differentiates between appointments, reservations, and promises, while Japanese uses yakusoku for some but not all of these.
- Mistake 1: Yakusoku vs. Yoyaku
- This is the #1 error. 約束 (yakusoku) is for people. 予約 (yoyaku) is for things/places. You make a yakusoku with a doctor, but you make a yoyaku for a dental check-up slot or a restaurant table.
Incorrect: レストランの約束があります。(Resutoran no yakusoku ga arimasu.)
Correct: レストランの予約があります。(Resutoran no yoyaku ga arimasu.)
Mistake 2 involves the particle choice. When making a promise *to* someone, you use the particle と (to - with) because a promise is seen as a mutual agreement between two parties. Using に (ni) is occasionally heard but と is much more standard for 'making an agreement with someone.'
- Mistake 3: Over-formality
- While yakusoku is fine in business, using it to mean a 'legal contract' is a mistake. For legal or binding business documents, use 契約 (keiyaku). Yakusoku is too soft and personal for a court of law.
その条件で契約を結びましょう。(Let's sign the contract [not promise] on those terms.)
Finally, beginners often forget that yakusoku is a noun. You cannot say 'I yakusoku you.' You must say 'Yakusoku o suru' or 'Yakusoku da.' Keeping the parts of speech clear is vital for grammatical accuracy.
While 約束 (yakusoku) is the most common word for promises and appointments, several other words occupy nearby semantic space. Choosing the right one can make your Japanese sound more natural and precise.
- 予約 (Yoyaku) - Reservation
- As mentioned, this is for booking a resource like a table, a room, or a flight. It is transactional.
- 誓い (Chikai) - Oath / Vow
- This is much stronger than yakusoku. It is a solemn oath, often made to a deity, oneself, or in a wedding ceremony. It implies a sacred or unbreakable bond.
- 契約 (Keiyaku) - Contract
- This is the legal term. Use this for apartment leases, employment agreements, and business deals.
心に誓いを立てる。(To make a vow in one's heart.)
For casual appointments, young people sometimes use the loanword アポ (apo), short for 'appointment.' This is specifically used in business contexts for scheduling meetings with clients. 'Apo o toru' means 'to get an appointment.'
明日の会議のアポを確認します。(I will confirm the appointment for tomorrow's meeting.)
Another interesting alternative is 言明 (genmei), which means a 'declaration' or 'statement.' This is used in political or highly formal contexts where someone is making a public promise. Finally, 指切り (yubikiri) is the specific word for a 'pinky swear,' often used by children along with a famous rhyme about swallowing a thousand needles if the promise is broken!
راهنمای تلفظ
- Over-emphasizing the final 'u'. In natural speech, it is often 'yakusok'.
- Pronouncing the 'o' like the 'o' in 'hot'. It should be like 'oh'.
- Misplacing the stress. English speakers tend to stress one syllable, but Japanese syllables have equal length.
- Mixing up the 'ku' and 'ko' sounds.
- Pronouncing 'ya' like 'yay'.
مثالها بر اساس سطح
あした、やくそくがあります。
I have an appointment tomorrow.
Uses 'ga arimasu' to indicate possession of an appointment.
ともだちとやくそくしました。
I made a promise with my friend.
The particle 'to' means 'with'.
やくそくですよ！
It's a promise, okay!
The 'yo' particle adds emphasis.
三時にやくそくがあります。
I have an appointment at 3:00.
Time + ni indicates the specific time of the appointment.
やくそくをわすれないでください。
Please don't forget the promise.
V-nai de kudasai means 'please don't...'
お母さんとやくそくしました。
I promised my mother.
Standard 'to yakusoku suru' structure.
これはやくそくです。
This is a promise.
Simple A wa B desu structure.
やくそくはどこですか。
Where is the [place of the] appointment?
Using 'doko' to ask for location.
約束を守ってください。
Please keep your promise.
Mamoru means to protect or keep.
彼は約束を破りました。
He broke the promise.
Yaburu means to tear or break.
約束の時間に遅れました。
I was late for the appointed time.
Yakusoku no jikan is a common compound noun.
来週、遊ぶ約束があります。
I have a promise to hang out next week.
The verb 'asobu' modifies 'yakusoku'.
指切りで約束しましょう。
Let's promise with a pinky swear.
Yubikiri is the Japanese pinky swear.
約束の場所はどこですか。
Where is the agreed-upon place?
Yakusoku no basho means meeting place.
嘘をつかないと約束します。
I promise not to tell a lie.
Negative verb + to yakusoku suru.
小さな約束も大切です。
Even small promises are important.
Mo means 'even' or 'also'.
明日の午後は、お客様と約束が入っています。
I have an appointment with a client tomorrow afternoon.
Yakusoku ga hairu means an appointment has been scheduled/entered.
彼は約束を絶対に守る人です。
He is a person who absolutely keeps his promises.
The entire phrase 'yakusoku o zettai ni mamoru' modifies 'hito'.
二度と遅刻しないと約束してくれますか。
Can you promise me that you won't be late again?
~te kuremasu ka is a polite request for an action.
これは私たちだけの秘密の約束です。
This is a secret promise just between us.
Himitsu no yakusoku means secret promise.
約束を破ると信頼を失います。
If you break a promise, you lose trust.
V-u to... indicates a natural consequence.
結婚するという約束を信じています。
I believe in the promise that we will get married.
The clause ends in 'to iu' to define the content of the promise.
急な約束ができて、行けなくなりました。
A sudden appointment came up, so I can't go anymore.
Kyuu na means sudden.
子供との約束を忘れてはいけません。
You must not forget your promise to your child.
~te wa ikemasen means 'must not'.
社会的な約束事として、マナーを守るべきだ。
As a social convention, one should observe manners.
Yakusoku-goto refers to social rules or conventions.
彼は約束を果たすために、必死で働いた。
He worked desperately to fulfill his promise.
Yakusoku o hatasu means to fulfill or carry out a promise.
口約束だけでは不安なので、書類にしましょう。
A verbal promise alone makes me uneasy, so let's put it in writing.
Kuchiyakusoku means a verbal/oral promise.
その約束が果たされる日は来るのだろうか。
I wonder if the day will come when that promise is fulfilled.
Passive form 'hatasareru' (to be fulfilled).
一度交わした約束は、何があっても守るべきです。
A promise once exchanged should be kept no matter what.
Yakusoku o kawasu means to exchange/make a promise.
彼は約束通り、三時ぴったりに現れた。
As promised, he appeared exactly at three o'clock.
Yakusoku-doori means 'as promised' or 'according to promise'.
政治家は選挙時の約束を忘れてはならない。
Politicians must not forget the promises made during the election.
Senkyo-ji means 'at the time of election'.
それは暗黙の約束として、皆が理解していた。
Everyone understood that as a tacit agreement.
Anmoku no yakusoku means 'unspoken/tacit agreement'.
条約の締結は、国家間の厳格な約束である。
The conclusion of a treaty is a strict agreement between nations.
Jouyaku means treaty; teiketsu means conclusion/signing.
文学における「約束事」を理解しなければ、真意は読み解けない。
Unless you understand the 'conventions' in literature, you cannot decipher the true meaning.
Yakusoku-goto here refers to literary tropes or conventions.
彼は亡き友との約束を胸に、旅を続けた。
With the promise to his deceased friend in his heart, he continued his journey.
'Naki tomo' means deceased friend.
その契約は、法的な拘束力を持つ約束だ。
That contract is a promise that holds legal binding force.
Kousokuryoku means binding force.
約束を反故にするような行為は、断じて許されない。
Acts such as reneging on a promise are absolutely unforgivable.
Yakusoku o hogo ni suru is a formal way to say 'to scrap/renege on a promise'.
将来の成功を約束されたかのような、完璧なスタートだった。
It was a perfect start, as if future success were guaranteed.
Yakusoku sareru means to be promised/guaranteed.
互いの信頼関係こそが、あらゆる約束の根底にある。
Mutual trust is at the root of every promise.
Kontei means root or foundation.
約束の重みに耐えかねて、彼は逃げ出してしまった。
Unable to bear the weight of the promise, he ran away.
V-stem + kanete means 'unable to do...'
社会契約論は、国家と市民の根源的な約束を論じている。
Social contract theory discusses the fundamental agreement between the state and its citizens.
Shakai keiyaku ron is Social Contract Theory.
言語とは、恣意的な記号と意味の間の約束体系に他ならない。
Language is nothing other than a system of agreements between arbitrary symbols and meanings.
Shiiteki means arbitrary; yakusoku taikei means system of agreements.
その悲劇は、運命という名の抗い難い約束によって引き起こされた。
The tragedy was brought about by an irresistible promise named fate.
Aragai-gatai means hard to resist/inevitable.
不文律としての約束が、このコミュニティの秩序を維持している。
Promises as unwritten rules maintain the order of this community.
Fubunritsu means unwritten law.
約束の履行を求める権利は、近代法学の基礎を成す。
The right to demand the fulfillment of a promise forms the basis of modern jurisprudence.
Rikou means fulfillment/performance of an obligation.
形而上学的な観点から見れば、存在そのものが一つの約束である。
From a metaphysical perspective, existence itself is a kind of promise.
Keijijougakuteki means metaphysical.
言葉を交わすという行為は、理解への永劫の約束を内包している。
The act of exchanging words contains within it an eternal promise toward understanding.
Eigou means eternity; naihou means inclusion/connotation.
約束の破棄がもたらす混沌は、文明の崩壊を予感させる。
The chaos brought by the annulment of promises foreshadows the collapse of civilization.
Haki means annulment/cancellation.
ترکیبهای رایج
عبارات رایج
— A casual way to confirm a plan or promise. Equivalent to 'It's a promise!' or 'Promise me!'
明日、絶対来てね。約束だよ！
— In modern slang/internet culture, it refers to a 'cliché' or a predictable trope in a story.
ここでヒーローが登場するのは、アニメのお約束だ。
— The standard way to say 'I have an appointment' or 'I have plans.'
今日は友達と約束があります。
— To cancel an appointment or promise.
急用で約束をキャンセルした。
— To withdraw or retract a promise.
さっきの約束は取り消します。
— The appointed day; the day a promise is to be fulfilled.
ついに約束の日が来た。
— A firm or solemn promise.
二人は固い約束を結んだ。
— To remember a promise.
ふとした瞬間に約束を思い出した。
— As promised; exactly as the agreement stated.
約束通り、宿題を終わらせた。
— That's not what was promised; things are different from the agreement.
話が違う！約束と違うじゃないか。
اصطلاحات و عبارات
— The beginning of the pinky swear chant. 'Genman' refers to ten thousand punches if the promise is broken.
指切りげんまん、嘘ついたら針千本飲ます。
Child-friendly— The Promised Land. Often used in religious or epic contexts.
彼らは約束の地を目指して旅をした。
Formal/Literary— To treat a promise like scrap paper; to completely ignore a previous agreement.
彼は過去の約束を反故にした。
Formal— An unspoken agreement or tacit understanding between people.
チーム内には暗黙の約束がある。
Neutral— To break or go against a promise. A slightly more formal/literary version of 'yakusoku o yaburu'.
彼は一度も約束を違えたことがない。
Formal— A promissory note. A financial document where one party promises to pay another.
銀行で約束手形を振り出す。
Business/Legal— Matters of agreement; established conventions.
社会の約束事柄を守る。
Formal— The weight or gravity of a promise.
約束の重みを感じている。
Neutral— To form or conclude a promise/agreement. Emphasizes the creation of the bond.
固い約束を結び合った。
Neutral— To fulfill a promise completely to the very end.
彼は最期まで約束を全うした。
Formal/Literaryخانواده کلمه
اسمها
فعلها
صفتها
مرتبط
Summary
約束 (yakusoku) is your go-to word for all human-to-human commitments in Japan. Whether you're telling a secret or scheduling a business lunch, this word covers the 'who' and 'when' of your social obligations. Example: <strong>友達と晩ご飯を食べる約束があります</strong> (I have a promise/appointment to eat dinner with a friend).
- Means both 'promise' and 'appointment' in Japanese.
- Used for people and social commitments, not for booking places (use 'yoyaku' for that).
- Can be used as a noun (yakusoku ga aru) or a verb (yakusoku suru).
- Key verbs to pair with it: 'mamoru' (keep) and 'yaburu' (break).
محتوای مرتبط
این کلمه در زبانهای دیگر
عبارات مرتبط
واژههای بیشتر communication
について
A2یک حرف اضافه ژاپنی به معنای 'درباره' یا 'در مورد'.
宛先
B1آدرس یا نام گیرنده ای که نامه یا ایمیل به او ارسال می شود.
番地
A2شماره پلاک یا شماره قطعه زمین در آدرس ژاپنی. 'شماره پلاک (banchi) را وارد کنید.'
賛同
B1تأیید، حمایت یا موافقت با یک ایده. اغلب شامل حمایت فعال است. سیاستمداران برای سیاست های خود به دنبال تأیید (賛同) هستند. شرکت ها می توانند تأیید (賛同) خود را به استراتژی های جدید بدهند.
~も
A2حرف اضافه 'mo' به معنای 'هم' یا 'همچنین' است. این حرف جایگزین 'wa'، 'ga' و 'o' میشود.
〜そして
A1کلمهای که برای اتصال دو جمله یا ایده استفاده میشود و به معنای 'و' یا 'سپس' است.
〜や
A2حرفی که برای فهرست کردن مثالها (الف، ب و غیره) استفاده میشود. این نشان میدهد که فهرست کامل نیست.
たり
A2حرفی که برای فهرست کردن نمونههایی از افعال یا حالتها استفاده میشود، به معنای 'انجام کارهایی مثل X و Y'.
お知らせ
B1اطلاعیه یا خبر. برای اطلاعرسانی رسمی به دیگران استفاده میشود.
答え
A2چیزی که در واکنش به یک سوال یا بیانیه گفته، نوشته یا انجام میشود.
