不约

不約

bùyuē

phrase

Meanings

1 won't meet up (with you)
2 playful refusal to a casual/dating invite; (origin) 'even if you asked I wouldn't hook up'

Characters

to arrange to meet, make a date

Examples

周末一起去看电影吗?——不约。

Zhōumò yìqǐ qù kàn diànyǐng ma? — Bù yuē.

Wanna go see a movie this weekend? — Nope, not meeting up.

陌生人私信问出来玩,我直接回复不约。

Mòshēngrén sīxìn wèn chūlái wán, wǒ zhíjiē huífù bù yuē.

A stranger DM'd me to hang out; I just replied 'not meeting'.

谁约我我都不约,最近想一个人待着。

Shéi yuē wǒ wǒ dōu bù yuē, zuìjìn xiǎng yí ge rén dāi zhe.

I'm saying no to everyone; lately I just want to be alone.

Tips

culture

Originated around 2015 as a dismissive reply to strangers asking to meet up (often with sexual undertones on dating apps). The full expression was '叔叔我们不约' (uncle, we're not meeting up), now abbreviated to just 不约.

register

Casual and a bit jokey. Between friends it's simply 'not up for it'; online it can carry the older flirty-refusal flavor, so read context.

Stroke Order

不 bù

约 yuē