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Kotomora

制

system, law, rule

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 200Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • セイ

Kun'yomi

—

Meaning

制 centers on imposing structure or control: a system, a law, or a rule that shapes behavior.

Most common words using 制

24 of 837
  • 制度せいど
    N3

    system; institution; organization; organisation

  • 制限せいげん
    N3

    restriction; restraint; limitation; limit

  • 制作せいさく
    N3

    work (film, book)

  • 制せい
    N2

    system; organization; organisation; imperial command; laws; regulation; control; government; suppression; restraint; holding back; establishment

  • 規制きせい
    N1

    regulation; (traffic) policing; control; restriction

  • 制御せいぎょ
    N1

    control (of a machine, device, etc.)

  • 体制たいせい
    N2

    order; system; structure; set-up; organization; organisation

  • 強制きょうせい
    N1

    compulsion; coercion; forcing (to do); enforcement

  • 制服せいふく
    N1

    uniform

  • 抑制よくせい
    N1

    control; restraint; suppression; constraint; curtailment; inhibition; check; curb

  • 統制とうせい
    N1

    regulation; control

  • 制覇せいは

    conquest; domination; supremacy; mastery

  • 制定せいてい
    N1

    enactment; establishment; creation

  • 制約せいやく
    N1

    limitation; restriction; condition; constraints

  • 先制せんせい

    head start; initiative; preemption

  • 制裁せいさい
    N1

    sanctions; punishment

  • 法制ほうせい

    legislation; laws

  • 制圧せいあつ

    gaining total control (of people or counties); suppression; oppression; control; mastery; ascendancy; supremacy

  • 制するせいする
    N1

    to hold back (e.g. emotions); to rein in (e.g. a horse, unruly people); to bridle

  • 管制かんせい

    control (by the state); controlling; coordination

  • 税制ぜいせい

    tax system

  • 専制せんせい
    N2

    despotism; autocracy

  • 制止せいし
    N1

    control; check; restraint; inhibition

  • 禁制きんせい

    prohibition; ban; embargo

Explore all words using 制 →

Study

Etymology

制 originally depicted cutting or trimming cloth with a knife, which extended to the idea of regulating or setting rules. The modern form retains the knife 刂 on the right, while the left side is a simplified representation of the original cloth-related component.

Meaning mnemonic

The right side 刂 is a knife, and the left side looks like a piece of cloth being cut. Imagine using a knife to cut cloth into a precise pattern, creating a system or rule for how things must be done.

Reading mnemonic

For セイ, picture a ruler saying 'say' (セイ) the law: the ruler's command 'say' cues セイ while the knife enforces the rule.