yùyuē: 预约 - To make an appointment, to book, to reserve

• Keywords: 预约, yuyue, yuyue meaning, how to make an appointment in Chinese, book a table in Chinese, reserve a room Chinese, schedule a meeting Chinese, 预约 vs 订, 挂号, Chinese for reservation
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 预约 (yùyuē), which means “to make an appointment,” “to book,” or “to reserve.” This guide covers everything a beginner needs to know, from booking a doctor's appointment and reserving a restaurant table to its cultural significance in modern, fast-paced China. Understand the critical difference between 预约 (yùyuē) and 订 (dìng) with practical examples.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yùyuē
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To arrange something in advance, such as an appointment, service, or space.
• In a Nutshell: 预约 (yùyuē) is your go-to word for scheduling your life in China. Think of any situation where you need to call ahead or use an app to secure a specific time slot—seeing a doctor, getting a haircut, meeting with a consultant, or even visiting a popular museum. It's a formal act of planning that has become a daily necessity in urban China.

• 预 (yù): This character means “in advance,” “beforehand,” or “to prepare.” It sets the stage, indicating that the action is not happening spontaneously but is planned for the future.
• 约 (yuē): This character means “to make an appointment,” “an agreement,” or “to bind.” The silk radical (纟) on the left hints at a “binding” agreement.
• Together, 预约 (yùyuē) literally translates to “to make an agreement in advance.” This perfectly captures the essence of making a formal reservation or appointment.

In a country with over 1.4 billion people, efficiency and order are paramount. The concept of 预约 (yùyuē) has evolved from a simple convenience into a fundamental aspect of modern Chinese society, especially in cities. Compared to Western cultures where walk-ins are often welcome, the “reservation economy” in China is booming. Due to high demand, many services are now “appointment-only.” For instance, seeing a specialist doctor at a top hospital without an appointment made weeks in advance is nearly impossible. Popular restaurants, especially internet-famous (网红, wǎnghóng) spots, require you to 预约 through an app or risk waiting for hours, if you can get in at all. Even public parks and museums in major cities may require you to 预约 a time slot online to manage crowds during holidays. This reliance on 预约 reflects a cultural shift towards planning, leveraging technology (via WeChat mini-programs and other apps), and managing resources in a densely populated environment. For a learner, mastering 预约 isn't just about vocabulary; it's about learning how to navigate daily life in modern China.

You'll use 预约 constantly, both in speaking and through digital platforms.

• Healthcare: This is one of the most critical uses. You 预约 a doctor's appointment (or more specifically, you 预约挂号 - `yùyuē guàhào`, “book a registration number”). This is almost exclusively done through hospital apps, WeChat, or Alipay.
• Dining & Entertainment: To guarantee a spot at a popular restaurant, you'll need to 预约 a table. For new movie releases, people often 预约 their seats online days in advance.
• Personal Services: Scheduling a time with a hairdresser, a personal trainer, a massage therapist, or even a test drive for a car all use 预约.
• Business & Official Matters: In a professional context, you 预约 a meeting with a client. To avoid long lines at a bank or government service center, you can often 预约 a specific time to be seen.

• Example 1:
  • 我需要预约明天下午两点的医生。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xūyào yùyuē míngtiān xiàwǔ liǎng diǎn de yīshēng.
  • English: I need to make an appointment with the doctor for 2 PM tomorrow afternoon.
  • Analysis: A classic, direct sentence for making a medical appointment.
• Example 2:
  • 你好，我想预约一个两人桌，周五晚上七点。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ hǎo, wǒ xiǎng yùyuē yí ge liǎng rén zhuō, zhōuwǔ wǎnshang qī diǎn.
  • English: Hello, I'd like to reserve a table for two for Friday at 7 PM.
  • Analysis: This is a standard and polite phrase you can use to call a restaurant.
• Example 3:
  • 这个博物馆需要提前在网上预约吗？
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge bówùguǎn xūyào tíqián zài wǎngshàng yùyuē ma?
  • English: Does this museum require booking online in advance?
  • Analysis: A practical question for a tourist. 提前 (tíqián), meaning “in advance,” is often used with 预约.
• Example 4:
  • 对不起，我们今天的位子都已经被预约满了。
  • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒmen jīntiān de wèizi dōu yǐjīng bèi yùyuē mǎn le.
  • English: I'm sorry, all our seats for today are fully booked.
  • Analysis: Here, 预约 is used in a passive sense (被预约 - `bèi yùyuē`). 满了 (mǎn le) means “full.”
• Example 5:
  • 请问您有预约吗？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn nín yǒu yùyuē ma?
  • English: Excuse me, do you have an appointment/reservation?
  • Analysis: In this context, 预约 functions as a noun. This is a very common question asked by receptionists.
• Example 6:
  • 我和王经理预约了上午十点的会议。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ hé Wáng jīnglǐ yùyuē le shàngwǔ shí diǎn de huìyì.
  • English: I have scheduled a meeting with Manager Wang for 10 AM.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates its use in a formal business context for scheduling meetings.
• Example 7:
  • 如果你想剪头发，最好先跟理发师预约一下时间。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ xiǎng jiǎn tóufa, zuìhǎo xiān gēn lǐfàshī yùyuē yíxià shíjiān.
  • English: If you want to get a haircut, you'd better make an appointment with the hairdresser first.
  • Analysis: 预约一下 (yùyuē yíxià) softens the tone, making it a friendly suggestion.
• Example 8:
  • 我忘了预约，现在餐厅里一个人都没有了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ wàng le yùyuē, xiànzài cāntīng lǐ yí ge rén dōu méiyǒu le.
  • Wait, this sentence is illogical. If I forgot to book, the restaurant would be full, not empty. Let's fix it.
  • 我忘了预约，现在餐厅里一个空位都没有了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ wàng le yùyuē, xiànzài cāntīng lǐ yí ge kòngwèi dōu méiyǒu le.
  • English: I forgot to make a reservation, and now there isn't a single empty seat in the restaurant.
  • Analysis: Shows a negative consequence of not using 预约. 空位 (kòngwèi) means “empty seat.”
• Example 9:
  • 你可以通过微信小程序轻松预约。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kěyǐ tōngguò Wēixìn xiǎochéngxù qīngsōng yùyuē.
  • English: You can easily make a booking through the WeChat mini-program.
  • Analysis: This reflects the modern, tech-driven reality of how 预约 is done in China.
• Example 10:
  • 如果您不能来，请至少提前24小时取消预约。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nín bùnéng lái, qǐng zhìshǎo tíqián èrshísì xiǎoshí qǔxiāo yùyuē.
  • English: If you cannot come, please cancel your appointment at least 24 hours in advance.
  • Analysis: Here, 预约 is again used as a noun, and we see its antonym, 取消 (qǔxiāo), which means “to cancel.”

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 预约 (yùyuē) and 订 (dìng). They both can translate to “to book,” but they are not always interchangeable.

• 预约 (yùyuē): Focus on Time/Service. Use 预约 when you are scheduling a person's time or a service. It's about securing a slot.
  • Examples: a doctor's time (预约医生), a meeting (预约会议), a haircut (预约理发).
• 订 (dìng): Focus on a Product/Ticket. Use 订 when you are ordering or reserving a tangible item, often involving a payment, deposit, or ticket.
  • Examples: a hotel room (订房间), a flight ticket (订机票), a train ticket (订火车票), ordering a newspaper (订报纸).
• The Overlap: Restaurants and KTV rooms are a grey area where both are acceptable. 我想预约一个桌子 (Wǒ xiǎng yùyuē yí ge zhuōzi) and 我想订一个桌子 (Wǒ xiǎng dìng yí ge zhuōzi) are both correct. However, 预约 is extremely common in spoken language for this context.

Common Mistake:

• Incorrect: 我 预约 了一张去北京的飞机票。 (Wǒ yùyuē le yī zhāng qù Běijīng de fēijīpiào.)
• Why it's wrong: A plane ticket is a “product” you purchase, not a service time you are scheduling.
• Correct: 我 订 了一张去北京的飞机票。 (Wǒ dìng le yī zhāng qù Běijīng de fēijīpiào.)

• 订 (dìng) - To book, to order. The closest relative to 预约, used for products and tickets rather than services.
• 挂号 (guàhào) - To register at a hospital. This is the specific action you take to get in line to see a doctor, and it's a type of 预约.
• 预定 (yùdìng) - To reserve, to book. A more formal synonym that combines 预 (yù) and 订 (dìng). It can often be used interchangeably with 订.
• 约会 (yuēhuì) - To go on a date; a date (romantic). A very common false friend! While it contains 约, it refers specifically to a social or romantic meeting, not a formal appointment for a service.
• 安排 (ānpái) - To arrange, to schedule. A broader term. You can 安排 a whole day's schedule, which might include several different things you need to 预约.
• 取消 (qǔxiāo) - To cancel. The direct opposite of making a reservation.
• 排队 (páiduì) - To queue, to wait in line. This is what you often have to do if you fail to 预约.
• 时间 (shíjiān) - Time. The core element that you are reserving when you 预约.