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誓约 (shì yuē) — (formal) a solemn promise or agreement; a vow, a pledge

Definition

A solemn, formal vow or pledge — typically written or declared publicly, stronger than the everyday 诺言 nuòyán. Used in serious contexts like marriage or political commitments.

noun
(formal) a solemn promise or agreementa vowa pledge

Examples

  • 誓约。
    Tā men lì xià le yǒng jiǔ de shì yuē.
    They made a permanent vow.
  • 誓约。
    Zhè ge shì yuē dài biǎo zhe shuāng fāng de xìn rèn.
    This pledge represents the trust between both parties.
  • 誓约。
    Tā bèi pàn le zì jǐ dāng chū de shì yuē.
    He betrayed his original vow.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

誓shìoath
约yuēpromise

'誓' is an oath and '约' is a promise or agreement; together they denote a solemn vow.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
折
折zhé誓shì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

誓 is built from 言, meaning speech, and 折, which provides the sound. The speech part shows it is about spoken words, such as a vow.

Open 誓 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 約; 约 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìrope
Sound part声符shēngfú
勺
勺sháo約yuē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 約 uses 糸, a rope, for its meaning and 勺 for its sound; the simplified 约 is a later shorthand.

Open 约 →
Appears in
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