Meaning
预约 means to arrange something in advance, typically an appointment with a doctor, a restaurant reservation, or a scheduled service. It emphasizes the act of securing a time slot or service ahead of time rather than arriving without notice. As a noun, it refers to the appointment or reservation itself.
Usage
Commonly used in formal or semi-formal contexts when booking medical appointments, restaurant tables, hotel rooms, or professional services. Native speakers often use it with 需要 (need to) or 可以 (can) when asking about booking requirements. Very common in service industries.
Examples
- 01看病需要提前预约吗？?Do I need to make an appointment in advance to see a doctor?
- 02我已经预约了明天下午三点的餐位。.I've already reserved a table for tomorrow at 3 PM.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个预约
Common collocations
- 提前预约to book in advance
- 需要预约need to make an appointment
- 预约时间appointment time
- 预约挂号to book a medical appointment
Antonyms
Origin
预 originally meant 'beforehand' or 'in advance', while 约 meant 'to bind' or 'to agree upon'. Together they form the modern meaning of arranging something in advance through mutual agreement.