Chinese word

界限

Pronunciation

Pinyinjiè xiàn

Meaning

  • nounboundary

Example

我们要划清工作和生活的界限。wǒ men yào huà qīng gōng zuò hé shēng huó de jiè xiàn

We need to draw a clear boundary between work and life.

Illustration for 界限 (boundary)

More examples

在法律条文中，责任的界限必须明确。zài fǎ lǜ tiáo wén zhōng zé rèn de jiè xiàn bì xū míng què

In legal provisions, the boundary of responsibility must be clear.

Core concept

A dividing line marks where one area, object, role, or authority stops and another begins.

Common phrases

  • 划清界限huà qīng jiè xiàn

    draw a clear boundary

  • 设定界限shè dìng jiè xiàn

    set a boundary

  • 超出界限chāo chū jiè xiàn

    go beyond the boundary

  • 突破界限tū pò jiè xiàn

    break through the boundary

Similar words

界线jiè xiàn: A visible line used to mark a boundary or separate one side from another.
范围fàn wéi: The full extent of an activity, effect, or area of responsibility.
边缘biān yuán: The part of an object or area nearest to the outside.
限界xiàn jiè: The greatest level or extent that something is able to reach.

Definition in Chinese

表示某一范围的分界或边界线，可用于地理、物体的边缘，也可用于职责或权限等抽象范围的划分。biǎo shì mǒu yí fàn wéi de fēn jiè huò biān jiè xiàn kě yòng yú dì lǐ wù tǐ de biān yuán yě kě yòng yú zhí zé huò quán xiàn děng chōu xiàng fàn wéi de huà fēn

Word origin

界 (jiè, "boundary") + 限 (xiàn, "limit") combines the ideas of a defined area and its endpoint.

Usage tips

  • In workplace conversation, it naturally marks a separation of duties or authority, not only a line on a map.

Other meanings

  • limitnoun

Word lists with this word