約束する · noun or participle which takes 'suru'
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 約束する | 約束しない |
| Polite | 約束します | 約束しません |
| Past polite | 約束しました | 約束しませんでした |
| Past | 約束した | 約束しなかった |
| Te-form | 約束して | 約束しないで |
| Desire | 約束したい | 約束したくない |
| Potential | 約束できる | 約束できない |
| Passive | 約束される | 約束されない |
| Causative | 約束させる | 約束させない |
| Causative passive | 約束させられる | 約束させられない |
| Volitional | 約束しよう | |
| Polite volitional | 約束しましょう | |
| Imperative | 約束しろ | 約束するな |
| Conditional | 約束すれば | 約束しなければ |
| Tara conditional | 約束したら | 約束しなかったら |
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
promise; agreement; one's word; contract
Broad everyday use for a promise or agreement, from a personal promise to a pact or contract-like understanding. Common patterns include 約束する, 約束を守る, and 約束を破る; for a formal legal contract, 契約 is often more precise.
秘密を誰にも話さないと約束した。
I promised not to tell anyone the secret.
He came on time to keep his promise.
Used when there is an arrangement to meet or do something with someone. It often appears as 会う約束 or 約束がある, and can include a social date depending on context.
I have an appointment to meet a friend at the station at three.
Refers to an agreed-upon convention, rule, or expected pattern within a field, art form, story, or group. In modern Japanese, 約束事 is also very common for this meaning.
Kabuki has conventions that are hard for first-time viewers to understand.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
Rare and literary or old-fashioned as a noun meaning fate or something ordained. Modern everyday Japanese usually uses 運命 or 定め instead for this meaning.
In older writing, 約束 is sometimes used with a meaning close to 'destiny' or 'fate.'
I made a promise with a friend to go on a trip next month.
The two exchanged a promise to marry each other.
I have an appointment to go to the dentist today.
I ended up being a little late for the appointed time.
He promised his wife that he would quit smoking.
約束 is the general word for a promise, while 指切り refers specifically to the pinky-linking ritual used to seal a promise, often between children.
約束 is the ordinary modern word for a promise, while 因み in this sense (a pledge, especially a marriage vow) is archaic and rarely used today.
約束 is a general, everyday promise, while 確約 is a stronger, more formal and binding commitment.
約束 is the everyday modern word for a promise, while 兼ね言 is an archaic literary term for the same idea.
約束 is a general promise or arrangement of any kind, while 待ち合わせ specifically means agreeing to meet someone at a set time and place.
約束 is a general promise or appointment, while 言質 specifically refers to a spoken commitment that can later be used against the speaker.
約束する is the ordinary word for making a promise in daily life, whereas 契る is solemn and rarely used for casual promises.
約束 is the everyday word for a promise or appointment, while 旧約 is a formal, literary term specifically for an old or past agreement.
約束 is a common word for a promise or appointment, whereas 誓約 is a solemn, binding oath.
約束 is the general word for any promise or arranged meeting, while アポイント specifically refers to a scheduled business appointment.
約束する is a general promise between people, while 誓う implies a stronger, more solemn commitment or oath.
appointment; date; rendezvous