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约

to ask someone out, about, approximately

verb Uncommon #6,140
to ask someone out Used to invite someone to meet or go out, often on a date.
CH: 我想约他出去喝咖啡。
EN: I want to ask him out for coffee.

那咱们约着一起去吧

Then let's make plans to go together.

— 重庆森林 (1994)

我约你来不是真的要约你我说说而已的

I asked you out, but I didn’t really mean it—I was just saying.

— 美人鱼 (2016)

一个也没约出去啊

I couldn't get a single person to go out with me.

— 热辣滚烫 (2024)

我明天和伯曼医生约时间明天一早就约我们都去

I’ll make an appointment with Dr. Berman tomorrow. Let’s book it first thing in the morning—we’ll both go.

— 充气娃娃之恋 (2007)

所以我才约泰哥来这里问个清楚啊

That’s why I asked Brother Tai to come here so I could get a clear answer.

— 唐人街探案 (2015)

我约卡罗尔五次后就跟她求婚

After going on five dates with Carol, I proposed to her.

— 猫鼠游戏 (2002)

后来我真的给她打电话约她出来玩

Later, I actually called her and asked her to hang out.

— Suzhou River (2000)

你完全可以约卡特里娜·德·沃克出去

You could totally ask Katrina De Walker out.

— 朱诺 (2007)

考虑一下约他吃晚饭

Consider inviting him to dinner.

— 时空恋旅人 (2013)

你跟死者约过会

You dated the deceased.

— 杀人回忆 (2003)

以前有人约过我,

Someone asked me out before.

— 好人寥寥 (1992)

这样明天我帮你约跟她一起去划船好不好

How about I help you make a booking tomorrow so you can go boating with her?

— Hi, Mom (2021)

约他喝东西

Ask him out for a drink.

— 真爱至上 (2003)

你约她逛街吧，

Ask her to go shopping with you.

— 重庆森林 (1994)

我约你出去啊

I'm asking you out.

— 怒火青春 (1995)

我们可以下班后约去喝咖啡

We can meet up for coffee after work.

— 谜一样的双眼 (2009)

我约你出来当然是我掏钱

Of course I’m paying since I’m the one who asked you out.

— SoulMate (2016)

我明天约他去看戏

I’ll ask him to go see a play with me tomorrow.

— 黄飞鸿之一：壮志凌云 (1991)

他约的是心理医生又不是妓女

He made an appointment with a psychologist, not a prostitute.

— 完美陌生人 (2016)

adverb Rare #32,468
about, approximately Often used before a number or quantity.
CH: 这里约有二十个人。
EN: There are about twenty people here.

约两千磅那种东西？

Something weighing around 2,000 pounds?

— 虎胆龙威 (1988)

约有五分钟，请你们别跑

I’ll be there in about five minutes, so please don’t run off.

— 虎胆龙威 (1988)

这封信约一个星期左右到达。

This letter should arrive in about a week.