Radical 艹

9 strokes

藥

grass 艹 (218a) + approximate 约 (720a) = medicine 药

[药房 (293) yàofáng pharmacy]

[药片 (353) yàopiàn pill, tablet]

The sick cow has eaten poisonous plants which looked approximately like grass, and so now has to take some medicine. / But as the dwarf assistant reaches for the medicine, the cow stands on his foot and he yells out, “Yeow!”

约

thread 纟 (233a) + ladle 勺 (23b) = approximate 约

This also means to make an appointment or come to an agreement.

In the palace kitchens they hang a ladle from a thread and use it as a makeshift pendulum (to time the boiled eggs) — a traditional method, but only approximate! / [No pronunciation needed]