克 kè — gram; subdue; to restrain; to overcome; subdue
请给我两百克糖。Qǐng gěi wǒ liǎng bǎi kè táng.Please give me two hundred grams of sugar.
Common words: 千克 (qiān kè)、克服 (kè fú)、巧克力 (qiǎo kè lì)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to restrain"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to restrain", including 克 (kè), 按 (àn), 抑 (yì). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to restrain" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 克 (kè), 按 (àn), 抑 (yì) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span kè, àn, yì — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 克 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 克 kègram; subdue; to restrain; to overcome; subdueUseful words: 千克, 克服
- 按 ànto press (with the hand); to push; to control; to restrain; to check; pressing down (brush movement in painting)Useful words: 按照, 按时
- 抑 yìto restrain; to restrict; to keep down; orUseful words: 抑制, 压抑
Common words for these 3 "to restrain" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 克 (kè) — so "to restrain" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
千克qiān kèkilogram克服kè fú(try to) overcome (hardships etc); to conquer; to put up with; to endure巧克力qiǎo kè lì(loanword) chocolate按照àn zhàoaccording to; in accordance with; on the basis of按时àn shíon time; before deadline; on schedule按摩àn mómassage; to massage抑制yì zhìto inhibit; to keep down; to suppress压抑yā yìto constrain or repress emotions; oppressive; stifling; depressing抑郁yì yùdepressed; despondent; gloomy
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "to restrain".
按 àn — to press (with the hand); to push; to control; to restrain; to check; pressing down (brush movement in painting)
请按一下这个按钮。Qǐng àn yí xià zhè ge àn niǔ.Please press this button.
Common words: 按照 (àn zhào)、按时 (àn shí)、按摩 (àn mó)
抑 yì — to restrain; to restrict; to keep down; or
他努力抑制住自己激动的心情。Tā nǔ lì yì zhì zhù zì jǐ jī dòng de xīn qíng.He tried hard to suppress his excitement.
Common words: 抑制 (yì zhì)、压抑 (yā yì)、抑郁 (yì yù)
All 3 characters
Open 克、按、抑 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.