The Chinese word 克制 (kèzhì), meaning "to restrain" or "to exercise self-control", is a compound formed through the combination of two semantically related characters: 克, which carries connotations of "overcoming" or "subduing", and 制, which means "to control", "to regulate", or "to restrict". Together, they create a synergistic meaning where 克 emphasizes the act of overcoming an internal impulse or external force, and 制 adds the dimension of imposing order or restraint upon it, resulting in a term that vividly describes the conscious act of holding oneself back or keeping one's emotions or actions in check.