The character 限 — “limit”: how to write it and what it means

限
xiàn

limit; restrict

8 strokes · HSK 5 · word page

The Chinese character 限 is read xiàn and means “limit; restrict”. Below: the stroke order step by step, what the character is made of and the words it appears in.

Stroke order: how to write 限

限 has 8 strokes. At each step the new stroke is highlighted — write them in the same order: top to bottom and left to right, horizontal before vertical, a frame before what is inside it, and the bottom stroke of the frame last.

To train your hand, print a handwriting sheet for 限, with strokes to trace and empty squares.

What 限 is made of

On the left, 阝 “hill”: a hill blocks the way. The right part is the same as in 跟 and 很.

The parts of a character hint at its meaning or its reading — more in the article “Chinese character radicals”.

Words with 限

Frequently asked questions

How do you write the character 限?

限 has 8 strokes. They follow the usual rules: top to bottom, left to right, horizontal before vertical, outside before inside. The order of each stroke is shown on this page.

What does 限 mean?

限 means “limit; restrict”. It appears in 有限 (“limited”), 无限 (“boundless”), 限制 (“restrict”), 期限 (“deadline”).

How do you pronounce 限?

限 is read xiàn. The tone is part of the reading: with another melody it becomes another syllable.

How many strokes does 限 have?

8 strokes.

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More characters on the page “Chinese characters with meanings” and in the list of HSK characters by level; whole words are in the dictionary.

Write 限 yourself

In the lessons you write characters stroke by stroke with a finger or a mouse, and the course checks the order. You can start for free, no sign-up needed.

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