限

xiàn

艮 + 阝

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

xiàn (verb) to limit; to restrict

xiàn (noun) limit; bound; restriction

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 阝 represents the meaning and 艮 represents the sound.

Semantic: 阝 Phonetic: 艮

About

限 is a phono-semantic character: the left-hand component 阝, derived from 'mound' or 'hill', conveys a sense of physical boundary, terrain barrier, or obstacle. The right-hand component 艮 functions as a phonetic indicator. The original concrete meaning was a tangible obstruction, such as a raised threshold or earthen dam, that prevents passage. Over time, this notion of a physical impediment developed into a range of abstract meanings: a strict limit, fixed boundary, set maximum quantity, or the act of imposing restrictions.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

速度有限制。

Sùdù yǒu xiànzhì.

Speed has limitations.

我们的时间有限。

Wǒmen de shíjiān yǒuxiàn.

Our time is limited.

互联网提供无限可能。

Hùliánwǎng tígōng wúxiàn kěnéng.

The internet provides unlimited possibilities.

请在规定期限内完成。

Qǐng zài guīdìng qīxiàn nèi wánchéng.

Please complete it within the specified deadline.

这项政策限制了个人自由。

Zhè xiàng zhèngcè xiànzhì le gèrén zìyóu.

This policy limits personal freedom.

如果时间不限，我们可以做得更好。

Rúguǒ shíjiān bù xiàn, wǒmen kěyǐ zuò de gèng hǎo.

If time were not limited, we could do better.

由于资源有限，我们必须节约使用。

Yóuyú zīyuán yǒuxiàn, wǒmen bìxū jiéyuē shǐyòng.

Due to limited resources, we must use them sparingly.

尽管能力有限，他仍然坚持完成了任务。

Jǐnguǎn nénglì yǒuxiàn, tā réngrán jiānchí wánchéng le rènwù.

Despite limited ability, he still persisted and completed the task.

Related Characters

Component: 艮

Component: 阝

限