A2 Expression 中性 1分钟阅读

약속 있어요.

Yaksok isseoyo.

I have an appointment.

开始练习

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use this phrase to politely decline an invitation or explain why you are unavailable for a meeting.

  • Means: I have a prior engagement or meeting.
  • Used in: Declining invitations, explaining lateness, or setting boundaries.
  • Don't confuse: '약속' (promise/appointment) with '계획' (plan/intention).
Calendar icon + Waving hand = Polite refusal

适合你水平的解释：

This phrase means 'I have an appointment.' Use it when you are busy. It is very useful for saying no to friends.
This is a standard expression to indicate a prior commitment. It is socially polite and helps you decline invitations without providing specific details about your schedule.
This expression functions as a social buffer. By stating you have an existing commitment, you invoke a cultural norm that prioritizes prior obligations, allowing for a graceful exit from social requests.
The phrase serves as a pragmatic tool for boundary setting. In Korean social discourse, '약속' acts as a placeholder for any external commitment, effectively neutralizing the pressure to justify one's unavailability.
Linguistically, '약속이 있어요' utilizes the existential verb '있다' to establish a state of unavailability. It is a prime example of how Korean speakers utilize vague, socially-coded language to maintain harmony while asserting personal boundaries.
From a sociolinguistic perspective, this phrase exemplifies the 'politeness strategy' of minimizing imposition. By citing an external '약속', the speaker externalizes the cause of refusal, thereby mitigating the potential face-threatening act of rejecting an invitation.

意思

Stating that one has a prior engagement or meeting.

🌍

文化背景

Punctuality is highly valued. Having a '약속' means you are expected to be there on time. Similar to Korea, 'yakusoku' is a serious commitment. Americans might be more specific about *what* the plans are (e.g., 'I have a dentist appointment'). Social commitments are often flexible, but 'I have an appointment' is still a valid excuse.

💡

Be Vague

You don't need to say what the '약속' is. Just saying you have one is enough.

⚠️

Don't Lie Too Much

If you use this excuse every time, people will stop inviting you.

💡

Be Vague

You don't need to say what the '약속' is. Just saying you have one is enough.

⚠️

Don't Lie Too Much

If you use this excuse every time, people will stop inviting you.

自我测试

Fill in the correct particle.

오늘 저녁에 약속___ 있어요.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 이

약속 is the subject of the existential verb 있다, so it takes the subject particle 이.

Which is the most polite way to say this to a boss?

Choose the best option.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 약속이 있습니다.

습니다 is the formal polite ending appropriate for a boss.

Match the situation to the response.

Friend: 'Let's go to the cafe.'

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 약속이 있어요.

This is a polite way to decline the invitation.

🎉 得分： /3

视觉学习工具

练习题库

4 练习
选择正确答案 Fill Blank

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案：
Fill in the correct particle. Fill Blank A1

오늘 저녁에 약속___ 있어요.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 이

약속 is the subject of the existential verb 있다, so it takes the subject particle 이.

Which is the most polite way to say this to a boss? Choose A2

Choose the best option.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 약속이 있습니다.

습니다 is the formal polite ending appropriate for a boss.

Match the situation to the response. situation_matching A2

Friend: 'Let's go to the cafe.'

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 약속이 있어요.

This is a polite way to decline the invitation.

🎉 得分： /4

常见问题

2 个问题

Yes, it is very common in professional settings.

No, it is the standard polite way to decline.

相关表达

🔗

선약이 있어요

specialized form

I have a prior engagement.

🔗

일이 있어요

similar

I have work/things to do.

🔗

약속을 잡다

builds on

To make an appointment.

🔗

약속을 지키다

builds on

To keep a promise.

在哪里用

👋

Declining a friend

Friend: 오늘 영화 보러 갈래?

You: 미안, 오늘 약속 있어.

informal
👔

Professional meeting

Client: 내일 오후 2시에 미팅 가능하세요?

You: 죄송합니다. 그때는 이미 약속이 있습니다.

formal
🏃

Running late

Friend: 어디야?

You: 약속이 있어서 조금 늦을 것 같아.

neutral
📱

Dating app

Match: 오늘 저녁에 만날까요?

You: 죄송해요, 오늘 약속이 있어요.

informal
🏠

Family request

Mom: 오늘 저녁에 장 보러 가자.

You: 엄마, 미안한데 오늘 약속이 있어요.

neutral
🍱

Colleague lunch

Colleague: 점심 같이 먹을까요?

You: 아, 죄송해요. 오늘 약속이 있어요.

neutral

记住它

记忆技巧

Think of a 'YAK' (약) wearing a 'SOCK' (속) on its head, saying 'I have a meeting!'

视觉联想

Imagine a calendar page with a big red 'X' on it. You are pointing at it and shaking your head politely.

Rhyme

약속 있어요, 나 바빠요.

Story

Min-su is invited to a party. He doesn't want to go. He looks at his empty calendar, then looks at his friend. He says '약속 있어요' and walks away to read a book.

In Other Languages

Similar to 'I have plans' in English or 'J'ai un empêchement' in French. It serves the same function of a polite social shield.

Word Web

약속있다없다선약일정시간

挑战

For one day, if anyone asks you to do something, use '약속 있어요' as your polite refusal.

Review in 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, and 1 month.

发音

重音 Flat, natural Korean intonation.

The 'k' sound is crisp.

正式程度

正式
약속이 있습니다.

약속이 있습니다. (General)

中性
약속이 있어요.

약속이 있어요. (General)

非正式
약속 있어.

약속 있어. (General)

俚语
약속 있음.

약속 있음. (General)

The term '약속' (約束) is derived from Classical Chinese. '約' means to bind or restrict, and '束' means to bundle. Together, they meant to bind something into a bundle, which metaphorically became a 'binding agreement' between people.

Joseon Dynasty:
Modern:

趣味小知识

In the past, '약속' was used for formal contracts. Now, it's used for everything from a wedding to a coffee date.

文化笔记

Punctuality is highly valued. Having a '약속' means you are expected to be there on time.

“약속 시간에 늦지 마세요.”

Similar to Korea, 'yakusoku' is a serious commitment.

“約束を守る (Keep the promise).”

Americans might be more specific about *what* the plans are (e.g., 'I have a dentist appointment').

“I have plans.”

Social commitments are often flexible, but 'I have an appointment' is still a valid excuse.

“عندي موعد.”

对话开场白

“

이번 주말에 약속이 있어요?

“

약속을 잘 지키는 편이에요?

常见错误

✗

약속을 있어요.

✓

약속이 있어요.

wrong preposition
약속 is the subject, so it needs the subject particle '이', not the object particle '을'.

L1 Interference

0 1
✗

약속이 합니다.

✓

약속이 있어요.

wrong conjugation
You don't 'do' a promise, you 'have' one. Use '있다'.

L1 Interference

0

In Other Languages

Spanish Very Similar

Tengo un compromiso.

Korean '약속' is slightly more flexible than 'compromiso'.

French moderate

J'ai un empêchement.

French sounds slightly more formal/bureaucratic.

German Very Similar

Ich habe schon etwas vor.

German is more descriptive of the 'plan' itself.

Japanese Very Similar

約束があります。

None, they are effectively cognates.

Arabic moderate

عندي موعد.

Arabic 'maw'id' is more often used for formal appointments.

Chinese Very Similar

我有约了。

Chinese '约' is very versatile.

Korean self

약속이 있어요.

N/A

Portuguese Very Similar

Tenho um compromisso.

None.

Spotted in the Real World

📺

(2015)

“나 오늘 약속 있어.”

Declining a friend's request to hang out.

容易混淆

약속 있어요. 对比 계획이 있어요

Learners think 'plan' means 'appointment'.

계획 is a personal intention (e.g., 'I plan to study'), while 약속 is a social commitment.

常见问题 (2)

Yes, it is very common in professional settings.

usage contexts

No, it is the standard polite way to decline.

cultural usage

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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