also: らっち
noun
Almost always used in the negative phrase 埒が明かない (らちがあかない) meaning 'no progress is made' or 'things remain unsettled'. Rarely used outside this expression in modern Japanese.
話し合いが長引いて、埒が明かない。
The discussion is dragging on with no end in sight.
このままでは埒が明かないので、別の方法を考えよう。
We're not getting anywhere like this, so let's think of another way.
noun
Original meaning: a fence or railing, especially around a horse-riding ground. Now largely historical; encountered mainly in older texts or descriptions of traditional settings.
馬場の周りには埒が巡らされていた。
A fence was set up around the riding ground.
Kana spelling is common in modern usage, especially in the phrase らちが明かない.
Variant kanji form; less common but still encountered.
Obsolete kana usage; not used in modern Japanese.
限界 refers to a physical or abstract limit or boundary, while 埒 is used almost exclusively in the set phrase 埒が明かない to mean a lack of progress or resolution.
柵 is a general word for fence or paling, whereas 埒 in its original sense specifically referred to a fence around a horse-riding ground and is now rare.
Originally referred to a fence or railing, especially around a horse-riding ground. The modern sense of 'bounds' or 'limits' developed from the idea of being fenced in, but the word is now almost exclusively used in the negative phrase 埒が明かない.