限 (xiàn) — to limit; to restrict
Definition
限 (xiàn) is a bound-form verb meaning 'to limit / to restrict' — it almost always appears before a noun or phrase, not on its own. For the more common standalone verb 'to restrict', use 限制; 限于 means 'limited to' a scope, 限定 sets a condition.
verb
to limitto restrict
Easily confused
- 眼yǎnlook-alikeeye
- 线xiànsound-alikethread; string; wire; line
- 跟gēnlook-alike(preposition) with; together with; (indicating comparison) compared to
- 献xiànsound-aliketo offer, to present (with respect, e.g. flowers, gifts, opinion)
- 狠hěnlook-alike(adjective) ruthless, fierce, ferocious, determined
- 陷xiànsound-aliketo sink into, to get stuck in (physical substance); to cave in
Examples
- 限。Měi rén xiàn gòu liǎng běn.Each person is limited to buying two copies.
- 限。Shēn qǐng shí jiān xiàn dào běn yuè dǐ.The application deadline is limited to the end of this month.
- 限。Zhè zhāng piào bú xiàn zuò wèi.This ticket is not restricted to a specific seat.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.