Meaning
克制 means to restrain or control one's emotions, desires, or impulses through willpower. It emphasizes the active effort of holding back one's natural reactions or urges, often in difficult situations. The word carries positive connotations of maturity and self-discipline.
Usage
Commonly used when describing emotional restraint (克制情绪), controlling anger, or showing discipline in the face of temptation. It's a formal to neutral register word, often appearing in written Chinese and serious conversations. Frequently paired with 自己 (oneself) or used with 不住 to express inability to restrain.
Examples
- 01他努力克制自己的愤怒，没有说出伤人的话。, .He worked hard to restrain his anger and didn't say anything hurtful.
- 02面对美食的诱惑，她实在克制不住了。, .Faced with the temptation of delicious food, she really couldn't restrain herself anymore.
Characters
Common collocations
- 克制情绪to control one's emotions
- 克制不住unable to restrain (oneself)
- 克制自己to restrain oneself
- 保持克制to maintain restraint
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to control and restraint. 克 originally meant 'to defeat' or 'overcome,' while 制 means 'to regulate' or 'manufacture.' Together they form a compound emphasizing the active overcoming and regulation of impulses.