TongTong
Sign in

限制 (xiàn zhì) — (verb) to restrict, to limit; (noun) restriction, limit

Definition

限制 means 'to restrict / a restriction' in a general, often institutional sense (rules, quotas, time). 约束 is more about personal or moral constraint; 限定 narrows to a set range or condition.

verb
to restrictto limit
noun
restrictionlimit
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 限制。
    Xué xiào xiàn zhì le xué shēng shǐ yòng shǒu jī de shí jiān.
    The school restricts the time students use their phones.
  • 限制。
    Zhè ge chéng shì duì qì chē shù liàng yǒu yán gé de xiàn zhì.
    This city has strict restrictions on the number of cars.
  • 限制。
    Qǐng xiàn zhì nǐ de shuō huà shí jiān.
    Please limit your speaking time.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

限xiànrestrict
制zhìcontrol

限 (restrict) and 制 (control) combine to mean to restrict or a restriction.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⻖Written in full as阜fùmound
Sound part声符shēngfú
艮
艮gèn限xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

限 pairs ⻖ (mound, written 阜) with 艮 as a sound part; the mound side gives the sense of a boundary or limit.

Open 限 →

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 5HSK 2.0 Level 4Abstract Concepts5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.