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节制 (jié zhì) — to control, to restrain (emotions, behavior); to restrict, to limit (consumption, spending, diet)

Definition

节制 focuses on self-restraint — holding back one's own desires, emotions, or consumption. Unlike 限制 or 约束 (which restrict others by rules or force), 节制 is what you do to yourself.

verb
to controlto restrain (emotions, behavior)to restrictto limit (consumption, spending, diet)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 节制。
    Tā wú fǎ jié zhì zì jǐ de fèn nù.
    He cannot control his anger.
  • ，节制。
    Wèi le jiǎn féi, bì xū jié zhì yǐn shí.
    To lose weight, one must restrict diet.
  • 节制。
    Zhè ge yuè wǒ men yào jié zhì kāi zhī.
    This month we need to control spending.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

节jiérestrain
制zhìcontrol

节 means 'restrain' and 制 means 'control', together meaning to keep something within limits.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 節; 节 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺮Written in full as竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
即
即jí節jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 節 pairs ⺮ (bamboo) with 即, which gives the sound; the bamboo part points to a node of bamboo. The simplified 节 is a later abbreviation.

Open 节 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The form 制 pairs 朱 (tree) with 刀 (knife), showing the act of cutting a tree.

Open 制 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract ConceptsWill & Intention

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