限 meaning and stroke order
To limit; to restrict; (bound form) limit
How to write 限, stroke by stroke
8 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Meaning of 限
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to limit
- to restrict
- (bound form) limit
- bound
How 限 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Place.
阝 gives the meaning and 艮 hints at the sound.
Radical: 阝 (place), shared by 160 characters on this site.
How to remember 限
The left part 阝 here stands for a place, like a hill or a wall, and 艮 gives the sound. Picture a hillside wall that marks where a place ends: that is a limit, 限 (xiàn).
限 often appears in compound words about limits and restrictions, such as 限制 (xiànzhì), 有限 (yǒuxiàn) and 期限 (qīxiàn). It can also be used alone as a verb meaning to limit, often in notices and rules. Example: 每人限买两个。(Měi rén xiàn mǎi liǎng gè.) Each person is limited to buying two.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 限 (xiàn) with 恨 (hèn, to hate) and 很 (hěn, very), which share the 艮 part. Check the left side: 阝 for limit, 忄 for hate, 彳 for very.
Common words with 限
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 限制 | xiànzhì | to restrict; to limit | HSK 4 |
| 无限 | wúxiàn | unlimited; unbounded; infinite | HSK 4 |
| 有限 | yǒuxiàn | limited; finite | HSK 4 |
| 期限 | qīxiàn | time limit; deadline | HSK 4 |
| 极限 | jíxiàn | limit; extreme boundary | HSK 7-9 |
| 界限 | jièxiàn | boundary | HSK 7-9 |
| 限度 | xiàndù | limit | HSK 7-9 |
| 上限 | shàngxiàn | upper bound | HSK 7-9 |
| 局限 | júxiàn | to limit; to confine | HSK 7-9 |
| 限于 | xiànyú | to be limited to; to be confined to | HSK 7-9 |
| 限定 | xiàndìng | to restrict to; to limit | HSK 7-9 |
| 年限 | niánxiàn | age limit; fixed number of years | HSK 7-9 |
| 权限 | quánxiàn | scope of authority; extent of power; (access etc) privileges | |
| 有限公司 | yǒuxiàngōngsī | limited company; corporation |
限 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 限
How many strokes are in 限?
限 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 限 mean?
限 (xiàn) means to limit; to restrict; (bound form) limit. A common word with it is 限制 (xiànzhì), meaning "to restrict; to limit".
How do you pronounce 限?
限 is pronounced xiàn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 限?
The radical of 限 is 阝, which carries the idea of "place". Dictionaries list 限 under this radical.
Is 限 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 限 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 有限 and 无限?
有限 (yǒuxiàn) means limited or finite, as in 时间有限 (shíjiān yǒuxiàn), time is limited. 无限 (wúxiàn) is the opposite and means unlimited or infinite.
How is 限制 used in a sentence?
限制 (xiànzhì) works as a verb or a noun. For example, 这里限制车速 (zhèlǐ xiànzhì chēsù) means the speed is restricted here, and 有很多限制 (yǒu hěn duō xiànzhì) means there are many restrictions.