极限 (jí xiàn) — Chinese Word

noun HSK 5

Traditional 極限

jí xiàn

limit · extreme · utmost boundary

Meaning

极限 refers to the maximum or minimum boundary of something, beyond which it cannot go. It's used in both everyday contexts (physical or mental limits) and technical fields like mathematics, physics, and sports to describe the absolute threshold or boundary condition.

Usage

Commonly used in sports contexts (挑战极限 'challenge one's limits'), mathematical contexts (数学极限 'mathematical limit'), and when discussing human capacity or endurance. It carries a sense of pushing to the absolute edge of what's possible.

Examples

01
他喜欢极限运动，经常去攀岩和跳伞。
Tā xǐ huan jí xiàn yùn dòng, jīng cháng qù pān yán hé tiào sǎn.
He loves extreme sports and often goes rock climbing and skydiving.
02
每个人都有自己的极限，不要勉强自己。
Měi ge rén dōu yǒu zì jǐ de jí xiàn, bú yào miǎn qiǎng zì jǐ.
Everyone has their own limits, don't force yourself.

Characters

Measure words

个gè一个极限

Common collocations

挑战极限
tiǎo zhàn jí xiàn
to challenge one's limits
达到极限
dá dào jí xiàn
to reach the limit
极限运动
jí xiàn yùn dòng
extreme sports
超越极限
chāo yuè jí xiàn
to surpass one's limits

Origin

Compound of 极 (extreme/utmost) and 限 (limit/boundary), creating a reinforced meaning of 'ultimate limit.' Both characters have ancient origins in Classical Chinese.