guk6 haan6局限
Jyutpingguk6 haan6
Yaleguhk haahn
Definition
To limit, restrict, or constrain.
neutralworkdescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on external factors or structural barriers that prevent someone or something from reaching their full potential. It carries a slightly formal tone compared to everyday verbs like 限制, often appearing in discussions about career, personal growth, or systemic issues. It is frequently used in the passive voice or with the aspect marker 住 to emphasize a state of being held back.
Examples
His ability shouldn't be limited by this job.
Do you feel this environment has constrained your performance?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 限制, but 局限 specifically implies a narrow scope or a bottleneck created by circumstances, whereas 限制 is a broader term for any kind of rule or restriction.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
