How to say "constraint" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 気兼ねきがねnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbOnly the interpersonal sense: feeling constrained or hesitant with someone for fear of troubling them, as when staying at a friend's home or asking a favor; it never refers to rules or limits.
- 遠慮えんりょnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbSocial restraint: holding back or refraining out of politeness, modesty, or consideration, as when declining something offered or not pressing one's point in conversation; think of holding yourself back, not of external limits.
- 抑制よくせいnoun, suru verb, transitive verbRestraint as control or suppression: keeping impulses, emotions, or actions in check, as in curbing anger or spending; this is about holding something down, not about social politeness or hesitation.
- 拘束こうそくnoun, suru verb, transitive verbBinding or restriction in formal and technical contexts: physical restraint such as being taken into custody, and the technical sense of constraint in mathematics and engineering, where conditions restrict what is possible.
Choose 「気兼ね」 or 遠慮 for social hesitation and holding back out of consideration, 抑制 for controlling impulses or suppressing something, and 拘束 for formal, physical, or technical restrictions that bind.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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