약속 yak-sok

The anchor of a relationship. Broken '약속' are the source of the deepest pain in ballads, while eternal '약속' are the core of fan-dedicated songs.

◆ date_proposal — Textbooks teach you that 약속 means 'promise' or 'appointment,' which is why learners panic when someone asks, '이번 주말에 약속 있어요?' It sounds like a dentist appointment, but in social and romantic contexts, it's a high-stakes litmus test. When a native uses it this way, they aren't checking your schedule—they're subtly asking if your heart (and calendar) is open for a date. Calling a simple coffee hang a 약속 elevates the emotional weight, turning an ordinary afternoon into a potential turning point.

◆ solemn_vow — Textbooks teach you that 약속 is just 'an appointment,' but native speakers know that when you attach certain weights to it, it transforms into something much heavier—a sacred personal contract. This facet isn't about meeting a friend for coffee at two; it's about invoking your honor, your conscience, or a deep emotional bond. When a native says '이건 우리만의 약속이야' in this mode, they aren't planning a schedule—they are sealing a fate.

🎙️ 약속은 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [약쏙]로 소리나요 (경음화). 발음 연습하기 →