Discover 束 in physical bundles and in the word for a promise. Learn each reading with a complete word.
The idea
束 has 7 strokes; follow the linked diagram. 束（たば） is a bundle, 束ねる（たばねる） means to tie together, and 約束（やくそく） means a promise or agreement.
Examples
- 花束をお店で買いました。I bought a bouquet at a shop.
- 紙をひと束に束ねました。I tied the papers into a bundle.
- 彼女はリボンで髪を束ねました。She tied her hair with a ribbon.
- 友達との約束を守ります。I will keep my promise to my friend.
- 明日会う約束をしました。We promised to meet tomorrow.
- 戸のそばに薪の束があります。There is a bundle of firewood by the door.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No Japanese device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
Do not assume 束 always reads たば: in 約束 it reads そく. 速 also has 束 inside it, but is a different character.
Try it yourself
Write the reading of 花束 in hiragana.
Show answer or example answer
はなたば
花束 is はなたば, a bouquet; 束 is read たば in this word.
Write the reading of 約束 in hiragana.
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やくそく
約束 is やくそく, a promise or agreement; here 束 is read そく.
Choose the missing kanji: 約＿（やくそく）［束／速］.
Show answer or example answer
束
束 completes 約束（やくそく）, a promise. 速 is a different character.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Write the reading of 花束 in hiragana.
Write the reading of 約束 in hiragana.
Choose the missing kanji: 約＿（やくそく）［束／速］.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write 束 following the diagram, then cover the examples and make a sentence with 約束.