🇬🇧🇨🇳 restraint - 克制 : English Lesson

Meaning of "restraint" ("克制"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

Restraint means stopping yourself from doing something, even when you really, really want to, so you can stay calm, polite, or safe. When you use restraint, you control your actions, your words, and sometimes even your face, instead of letting your feelings explode like a volcano.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

Grandpa showed restraint by only telling three boring stories instead of all forty-seven of them.

The cookie jar begged me to open it, but I used restraint and only opened it twice.

The superhero of restraint is the kid who sits next to fresh cupcakes and doesn’t lick the frosting.

My tongue needed restraint when I almost told the dentist his tools look like tiny torture devices.

With great restraint, Max walked past the chocolate cake and only sniffed it 47 times instead of eating it.

On the quiet train, he felt a wild giggle choke inside; the whole ride felt like restraint. He used restraint to keep still; restraint tightened as the conductor tripped and dropped papers. The urge to laugh rose, but restraint held his breath. A child giggled across the aisle, and his restraint broke into a soft smile.

This word is at the C1 level, which means it’s part of advanced English. It’s used in sophisticated conversations, professional settings, and academic discussions. Words at this level help you express yourself fluently and precisely in nuanced situations.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.