约会
yuē huì · HSK 4
date
📅 约会 = 约 (agree/arrange) + 会 (meet) → an arranged meeting
约 carries the sense of making a pact or agreement, while 会 means to meet or gather. Together they form an arranged meeting — an appointment or date. Common for both business engagements and romantic dates.
约 — silk radical 糹/纟 + ladle 勺
约 combines the silk radical 糹 with 勺 (ladle), which provides the sound. Originally it referred to binding or tying with silk cords, from which came the meanings 'to bind by agreement,' hence 'pact, appointment,' and later 'approximately' (a loose, tied-up estimate).
会 — 人 person on top + 云 cloud/say below (simplified from 會)
The traditional form 會 showed a lid over a vessel with contents stacked inside, depicting things coming together — hence 'meet, gather, assemble.' From 'gathering' it extended to 'meeting,' then 'understand' (minds meeting) and 'be able to.' The simplified 会 keeps only a schematic top and bottom.
yuē huì · HSK 4
to have a date
📅 约 (agree/appointment) + 会 (meet) = an agreed meeting
约 means to make an arrangement or pact; 会 means to meet or gather. Together they form an agreed meeting — a date or appointment. 会 also appears in 开会 (meeting) and 会议 (conference).
约 — silk radical 糹/纟 + ladle 勺
约 combines the silk radical 糹 with 勺 (ladle), which provides the sound. Originally it referred to binding or tying with silk cords, from which came the meanings 'to bind by agreement,' hence 'pact, appointment,' and later 'approximately' (a loose, tied-up estimate).
会 — 人 person on top + 云 cloud/say below (simplified from 會)
The traditional form 會 showed a lid over a vessel with contents stacked inside, depicting things coming together — hence 'meet, gather, assemble.' From 'gathering' it extended to 'meeting,' then 'understand' (minds meeting) and 'be able to.' The simplified 会 keeps only a schematic top and bottom.