約束|やくそくyakusoku[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbpromise; agreement; arrangement; one's word; contract; pact
   自分じぶんが約束やくそくしたことはちゃんと実行じっこうするように最善さいぜんを尽つくすべきだ。↗

   You should do your best to carry out your promises.
2. nounappointment; engagement; date
   ジムは映画えいがに行いく約束やくそくをしたガールフレンドに待まちぼうけをくわされ、雨あめの中なかを一いち時間じかんも待またされて頭あたまにきている。↗

   Jim's angry because his date for the movie stood him up and he wasted an hour waiting for her in the rain.
3. nounconvention; rule
4. noun, suru verb, transitive verbdestiny; fate

• Synonym約定やくじょうWrittenWritten/formal prose for commercial or legal terms of an agreement, as in 「約定日」; common in financial transactions.
• Synonym誓約せいやくFormalFormal term for a sworn pledge, as in 「誓約書」; more solemn than 「約束」, carrying the force of an oath.
• Synonym盟約めいやくFormalFormal term for a sworn pact, as in 「盟約を結ぶ」; typically between organizations or states.
• Synonym契約けいやくFormalFormal term for a legally binding contract, as in 「契約書」 or 「契約を結ぶ」.
• Synonym取り決めとりきめNeutralNeutral word for a matter agreed upon, as in 「取り決めを守る」; stresses concrete provisions.
• Synonym決めきめCasualColloquial suffix for payments due at fixed intervals, as in 「月極め駐車場」; a very narrow use.
• Synonym約するやくするWrittenWritten/formal prose verb for promising, as in 「再会を約する」; also means to reduce or abridge.
• SynonymアグリーメントWrittenLoanword for an agreement or pact, as in 「ライセンスアグリーメント」; mostly in business documents.
• SynonymアポイントメントNeutralNeutral loanword for a meeting appointment, as in 「アポイントメントを取る」; focuses on the scheduled time to see someone.
• Synonym会う約束あうやくそくNeutralNeutral: arranging to meet someone, as in 「友達と会う約束がある」; just one specific use of 「約束」.
• Related申し合わせもうしあわせNeutralNeutral word for a joint arrangement worked out among several parties, as in 「委員会の申し合わせ」; stresses internal mutual understanding.
• Related協定きょうていFormalFormal term for a pact reached through negotiation, as in 「労使協定」 or 「貿易協定」.
• Related合意ごういWrittenWritten/formal prose for reaching agreement, as in 「合意に至る」; stresses matching opinions rather than a promise.
• Related協約きょうやくFormalFormal term for a pact between groups, as in 「労働協約」; common in labor-management relations.
• RelatedアポイントCasualColloquial shortening of the loanword, for a business appointment, as in 「アポイントを入れる」.
• Related議定ぎていFormalFormal term for matters decided by deliberation; read 「ぎじょう」, it also names an early-Meiji government post.
• Related契りちぎりWrittenWritten/formal prose for a vow or a bond between lovers, as in 「夫婦の契り」; has an archaic, poetic flavor.
• RelatedアポCasualColloquial abbreviation for a work appointment, as in 「アポを取る」; everyday in the workplace.
• Antonym破約はやくWrittenAntonym of 「約束」 in written/formal prose: breaking an agreement, as in 「破約となる」.
• Antonym反故ほごWrittenAntonym of 「約束」; usually 「約束を反故にする」, treating a promise as wastepaper and voiding it.

For everyday promises and appointments, 「約束」 is the default. Use 「契約」 for legally binding contracts, 「協定」 and 「協約」 for pacts between groups, 「誓約」 for sworn pledges, and 「合意」 for reaching agreement. For business meetings, the colloquial 「アポ」 is the usual pick. Breaking a promise is 「破約」 or 「反故にする」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 当事者とうじしゃ間かんでのとりきめ。将来しょうらいについての、自己じこの行動こうどうを他者たしゃに言明げんめいすること。
2. ひろく守まもるべききまりごと。ルール。慣習かんしゅう。
3. パターン化かされた進行しんこう。
4. 望のぞましいものが確実かくじつに得えられると見込みこまれること。保証ほしょう。