Boundaries and limits with 限
限 means “limit”, “boundary”, or “scope”. It is used in words establishing standards or defining limits.
Etymology
This kanji is a phono-semantic compound comprised of 阝 / 阜 (mound, embankment) as the semantic component and 艮 (a person looking back) as the phonetic component, giving the on-reading ゲン. These invoke imagery of reaching the edge of an embankment and being forced to stop there.
Boundaries
限界 (Limit)
限界 means the limit or boundary beyond which something cannot go.
It combines 限 (limit) with 界 (boundary) to show a boundary line.
Mina wants to hurry and eat her lunch, as she’s very hungry. Yukari reminders her they still have one more class first.
- ミナ:
- 「もう限界だよ！こんなんじゃ次の授業、集中できないよー。」
- “I'm already at my limit! As things are, come next class I won't be able to concentrate.”
Restrictions and Controls
限定 (Limitation)
限定 means limiting something to a particular scope, quantity, group, or condition.
It combines 限 (limit) with 定 (fix) to show something fixed within clear bounds.
Takeo and Rinko meet up after school and stop somewhere for a drink and to chat. Rinko brings up February 14th, which is right around the corner.
- 凛子:
- 「もうすぐバレンタインだから限定チョコいっぱい出てるよねー」
- “Since it's almost Valentine's, a lot of limited edition chocolates have come out.”
Time Boundaries
門限 (Curfew)
門限 means a curfew, the time by which someone must return or a gate must close.
It combines 門 (gate) with 限 (limit) to show the time limit of the gate.
After finding evidence of a UFO encounter, the group Colors sets out to find aliens. The case is cut short when the 5PM bell chimes, signalling that the young trio has to head home for the day.
- 斎藤:
- 「ああ門限か。ゲームオーバーだな」
- “Ah, curfew time? I suppose it's Game Over.”
時限 (Time limit)
時限 means a fixed period or division of time, such as a class period.
It combines 時 (time) with 限 (limit) to show a time boundary or fixed time period.
Two murders on a yacht leave the passengers on edge. A blackout occurs followed by another attempted murder. This should narrow down the list of suspects to those who weren’t gathered in the dining room. However, Detective Kogoro finds the power switch had a weight tied to it by rope, with a candle having burned the rope to drop the weight. This allowed the power to be turned off unattended.
- 小五郎:
- 「一種の時限装置です」
- “It's a timing device of sorts.”
期限 (Deadline)
期限 means a deadline or the period during which something remains valid.
It combines 期 (set time) with 限 (limit) to show a fixed time boundary or deadline.
During their walk home after school, Takagi presents Nishikata with an impossible challenge. When he pushes back against it, she comes up with a new challenge, which Nishikata loses. As the two reach the point where they part ways, Takagi stops for a moment.
- 高木:
- 「あの勝負期限ないからね。」
- “There's no deadline for that challenge.”
