有限

• Pinyin: yǒu xiàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 有 = 月 + 又 (hand), to have; 限 = 阝(mound) + 艮 (stop), boundary or limit

Meaning

Limited; finite. Describes something that is restricted in quantity, scope, or extent.

Often used with resources such as time, space, money, or capacity. The opposite is 无限 (unlimited). Also appears in business names: 有限公司 (Co., Ltd.) indicates limited liability. In everyday speech, 有限 signals a constraint that must be worked around.

Examples

1. 由于资金有限，这个项目只能先完成第一阶段的工程。 Due to limited funding, this project can only complete the first phase of construction for now.
2. 活动的名额有限，有意向参加的朋友请尽早报名。 Places for the event are limited, so those interested should register as early as possible.
3. 人的精力是有限的，所以要合理安排每天的学习时间。 A person's energy is limited, so study time each day should be arranged sensibly.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, business, academic

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 时间有限，我们尽量抓紧完成任务。(Time is limited, so let's try to finish the task as quickly as possible.)
• 这次名额有限，只能接受前五十名报名者。(Places are limited this time — only the first fifty applicants will be accepted.)

Don't Say

• 用'有限'表示数量极少或几乎没有 (Don't use 有限 to mean 'almost none' — it simply means there is a limit, not that the amount is negligible; use 很少 or 极少 for very small quantities)

Origin & History

A compound of 有 (to have) and 限 (limit/boundary; 阝 mound + 艮 stopping point). Together they mean to have a boundary or cap — i.e., to be limited.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal