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制約 (せいやく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 10,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
limitation ; restriction ; constraint
Refers to a binding condition or limit that restricts freedom of action, often used in formal, legal, or technical contexts. Can be used as a noun or with する to mean 'to impose a restriction'.
The law restricts our activities.
Kanji 約 promise, approximately, shrink Similar words 制せい 限げん 制限 is a more general term for a limit or restriction, often used for quantitative caps (e.g., time limits, number limits). 制約 emphasizes a binding condition or constraint that inherently restricts what can be done, often from an external source like rules, resources, or circumstances.
束そく 縛ばく 束縛 implies a stronger sense of being tied down or restrained, often with a negative connotation of oppression or lack of freedom, and is less common in neutral technical contexts.
Etymology Compound of 制 (control, regulate) and 約 (promise, approximately), suggesting a binding agreement or regulation that imposes limits. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji combination is conventionally associated with the meaning of 'restriction'.
