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制约 (zhì yuē) — to restrict, to constrain, to condition

Definition

制约 (zhìyuē) focuses on mutual or structural constraints — one factor restricting another — more abstract and reciprocal than 限制. Closer to 约束, but 制约 is typically used for impersonal forces (resources, conditions), not personal rules.

verb
to restrictto constrainto condition

Examples

  • 制约。
    Fǎ lǜ duì gè rén xíng wéi yǒu zhì yuē zuò yòng.
    Laws have a restrictive effect on individual behavior.
  • 制约。
    Zhè liǎng gè yīn sù xiāng hù zhì yuē.
    These two factors mutually constrain each other.
  • 制约。
    Jīng jì fā zhǎn shòu dào zī yuán de zhì yuē.
    Economic development is constrained by resources.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

制zhìrestrain
约yuēbind

制 and 约 both mean to restrain or bind, so the word expresses limiting or conditioning.

Characters in this word

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 →

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 約; 约 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìrope
Sound part声符shēngfú
勺
勺sháo約yuē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 約 uses 糸, a rope, for its meaning and 勺 for its sound; the simplified 约 is a later shorthand.

Open 约 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts

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