joek3約约
Jyutpingjoek3
Yaleyeuk
Definition
Contract or agreement.
colloquialworkmoney
How it's used
Using 約 as a standalone noun is extremely common in daily life, especially in business or rental contexts. It functions as a shorthand for 合約, making speech feel much more natural and less formal than using the full term. It is almost always preceded by the classifier 份.
Measure word
fan6份fanhExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this noun usage with the verb 約, which means to make an appointment or to ask someone out. Context is key, as the noun form usually appears with a quantifier like 份 or 呢.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
