约

約
yāo
#424 most
frequent character
to weigh in a balance or on a scale

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

约 pairs 纟 silk threads with 勺 sháo, whose sound is no longer plain. The silk points to tying or binding as the first sense. From that came limit, shorten, be frugal, approximate, contract, and appointment.

Drawn as: silk threads

约 as a component in other characters

sound2 characters
药哟

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Same Characters, Different Readings

约yuē
appointment, agreement, arrange

Homophones

HSK 5
腰yāo
waist, lower back, pocket, middle
妖yāo
goblin, witch, devil, bewitching
要yāo
(bound form) to demand, to coerce
邀yāo
to invite, to request, to intercept

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