zai3制
Jyutpingzai3
Yalejai
Definition
To limit, control, or restrict.
colloquialdaily actionsother
How it's used
As a free-standing verb in Cantonese, 制 is often used in the sense of being willing to do something or agreeing to a request, as in 我唔制 which means I refuse or I am not having it. When used in compound words, it retains the sense of restriction or regulation found in formal Chinese. It is distinct from 限制 as it often implies a more active or ongoing process of keeping something within bounds.
Examples
The government needs to keep that power in check.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the verb 制 with the colloquial expression 唔制 which is a common way to express refusal or disagreement. Do not use 制 as a standalone verb for control in casual speech, as it sounds overly formal or incomplete; use 控制 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
