hak1 zai3克制
Jyutpinghak1 zai3
Yalehāk jai
Definition
To restrain, control, or suppress undesirable emotions, thoughts, or impulses.
neutralemotiondaily actions
How it's used
Often used when someone is actively fighting an internal urge or a strong emotion like anger or greed. It implies a conscious effort to hold back something that is bubbling up inside. Unlike simple control, it carries a sense of endurance or self-discipline.
Examples
You must restrain your temper.
He couldn't restrain himself and lost his temper immediately.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse it with 忍耐, which focuses more on the act of enduring or putting up with a difficult situation, whereas 克制 focuses on suppressing an internal impulse or reaction.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
