TongTong
Sign in

界限 (jiè xiàn) — boundary; dividing line; limit; cutoff

Definition

界限 means 'boundary' in both physical and abstract senses — use it for both a dividing line (territory, categories) and a limit (moral, time, ability). More abstract than 边界 (geographic border) and more common than 界线.

noun
boundarydividing linelimitcutoff
Measure word · 个
Easily confused

Examples

  • 界限。
    Zhè tiáo hé shì liǎng guó zhī jiān de tiān rán jiè xiàn.
    This river is the natural boundary between the two countries.
  • 界限。
    Zuò rén zuò shì dōu yào yǒu dào dé jiè xiàn.
    In life and work, one must have moral boundaries.
  • 界限，。
    Zhè cì kǎo shì méi yǒu shí jiān jiè xiàn, nǐ kě yǐ màn màn zuò.
    There is no time limit for this exam; you can take your 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.

界jièboundary
限xiànlimit

'界' and '限' both mean boundary or limit, so together they express a dividing boundary.

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
田田tiánfield
Sound part声符shēngfú
介
介jiè界jiè
Same sound today

界 is built from 田 (field) and 介. 田 carries the meaning, while 介 gives the sound.

Open 界 →

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

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.