制限

• Reading: せいげん
• Romaji: seigen
• Kanji breakdown: 制 (sei) — to control, regulate; 限 (gen) — to limit, restrict
• Pronunciation: /seː.ɡeɴ/

Meaning

Restriction; limitation; restraint. Setting a boundary or limit on something.

A suru-verb (制限する) used for imposing limits or restrictions. Takes a direct object with を. Common in rules, regulations, diets, and technical contexts. Often appears in compounds like 制限速度 (speed limit) and 制限時間 (time limit).

Examples

1. この道路は速度制限が時速40キロだ。 The speed limit on this road is 40 kilometers per hour.
2. 医者に塩分を制限するように言われた。 The doctor told me to limit my salt intake.
3. 試験には制限時間があるので急いで書いた。 There was a time limit on the test, so I wrote quickly.

Usage Guide

Context: rules, health, regulations

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 制 (sei, to control/regulate) and 限 (gen, to limit/restrict). Together they mean to control by setting limits.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal