Signification
To give one's word to do something.
Contexte culturel
The 'Pinky Swear' (약속-도장-복사-사인) is a vital social ritual. Even adults sometimes jokingly do the 'stamp' and 'copy' to show they are serious about a casual plan. Punctuality is a form of 'yaksok'. Arriving late to a business 'yaksok' is seen as a sign of disrespect and can damage a partnership before it even begins. Political candidates use the word 'Gong-yak' ({公約|공약} - public promise) for their campaign pledges. Voters are very sensitive to whether these 'yaksok' are kept. On apps like Kakaotalk, '약속' is often used to mean 'I'm busy'. If someone says '약속 있어', it's a polite way to decline a last-minute invite without giving too many details.
The 'Prior Engagement' Trick
If you want to say no to someone politely, just say '선약이 있어요' (I have a prior engagement). It's the perfect 'get out of jail free' card in Korean social etiquette.
Don't 'Yaksok' a Doctor
Using 'yaksok' for a medical appointment sounds like you're dating your doctor. Always use '진료 예약' (medical reservation).
Signification
To give one's word to do something.
The 'Prior Engagement' Trick
If you want to say no to someone politely, just say '선약이 있어요' (I have a prior engagement). It's the perfect 'get out of jail free' card in Korean social etiquette.
Don't 'Yaksok' a Doctor
Using 'yaksok' for a medical appointment sounds like you're dating your doctor. Always use '진료 예약' (medical reservation).
Use -기로 하다
In casual speech, you can often drop '약속' and just say '-기로 했어요' (I decided/agreed to...). It implies the promise without being too formal.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '약속하다'.
어제 친구와 영화를 보러 가기로 ______.
The sentence describes a past action ('어제'), so the past tense '약속했어요' is required.
Which sentence is INCORRECT?
다음 중 틀린 문장은 무엇입니까?
For a dentist (치과), you should use '예약' (reservation/appointment) instead of '약속'.
Match the Korean phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are the four most common collocations with '약속'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 오늘 같이 점심 먹을래요? B: 미안해요. 오늘은 ______이/가 있어서 안 돼요.
'선약' (prior engagement) is the most natural and polite way to say you already have plans.
Which word fits best for booking a hotel?
호텔 방을 잡을 때는 어떤 단어를 사용합니까?
Commercial bookings always use '예약'.
🎉 Score : /5
Aides visuelles
약속 vs 예약
Banque d exercices
5 exercices어제 친구와 영화를 보러 가기로 ______.
The sentence describes a past action ('어제'), so the past tense '약속했어요' is required.
다음 중 틀린 문장은 무엇입니까?
For a dentist (치과), you should use '예약' (reservation/appointment) instead of '약속'.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are the four most common collocations with '약속'.
A: 오늘 같이 점심 먹을래요? B: 미안해요. 오늘은 ______이/가 있어서 안 돼요.
'선약' (prior engagement) is the most natural and polite way to say you already have plans.
호텔 방을 잡을 때는 어떤 단어를 사용합니까?
Commercial bookings always use '예약'.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsYes, but '미팅' (meeting) or '회의' (conference) is more specific. However, '약속이 있다' is perfectly fine to say you are busy with a meeting.
'약속' is an everyday promise or plan. '맹세' is a solemn vow, like a marriage vow or a religious oath.
Just say '약속!' while holding up your pinky finger. It's universally understood.
It is a noun that becomes a verb when you add '하다'.
Yes, '데이트 약속' is very common. If you just say '약속이 있어요', it's vague and could be anything.
It literally means 'to catch a promise', but it's the standard way to say 'to make plans' or 'set a date'.
It's a playful way to reinforce the commitment, mimicking how legal documents are stamped and copied for security.
It's understood, but '약속을 어기다' (to break/violate) or '약속을 취소하다' (to cancel) is more natural.
You can say '약속이 많아요'.
It means 'previous promise' ({先約}). Use it to politely decline an invitation.
Yes, the word is identical and used in the same way in North Korea.
In a broad sense, yes, but for a legal document, you must use '계약'.
Expressions liées
{豫約|예약}하다
similarTo make a reservation
{契約|계약}하다
specialized formTo sign a contract
{盟誓|맹세}하다
specialized formTo vow or swear
{先約|선약}
builds onPrior engagement
다짐하다
similarTo resolve/make a firm promise to oneself
