constrain

constrain 是“把人或事物紧紧压住、圈住”的动词：可以指迫使某人做某事，也可以指限制行动或使结果受资源条件限制。

💡 记忆钩子

想象一根绷紧的绳子：它先把人逼得不得不行动，这是“迫使”；再把活动范围勒在圈内，这是“限制”；当时间、资金等资源不足时，绳子又会把最终结果压低，这就是“使结果受限”。

📝 学习建议

不要只把 constrain 机械地理解成普通的“限制”；它也常表示外部压力迫使某人做某事。
学习时可先掌握“限制行动或结果”这一核心画面，再记住“迫使某人做某事”这一常见延伸。

📖 中文释义

verb

core 迫使；强制

📖 外部压力像绳子一样把人勒住，使对方不得不做某事，重点是“没有多少选择”。

💡 常用句型是“constrain someone to do something”或“be constrained to do something”。它多用于描述压力、义务或环境造成的被迫选择，语气通常比普通的“劝说”更强。不要把它当作直接命令某人的口语词；日常对话中常用的“强迫”也可能更自然。

transitive

Rising costs constrained the company to reduce its staff.

不断上涨的成本迫使公司裁员。

We were constrained to cancel the trip because of the storm.

由于暴风雨，我们不得不取消旅行。
core 限制；使受约束

📖 像用绳子围出一个很小的圈，把人或事物的活动范围、选择或发展空间限制在里面。

💡 常用句型是“constrain someone/something”或“be constrained by something”。主语通常是规则、空间、能力、系统等限制因素，而不是被限制的一方；它常用于正式说明和分析。不要把它理解成必然完全禁止，很多时候只是让行动空间变小。

transitive

Limited space constrains the number of people we can invite.

有限的空间限制了我们能邀请的人数。

Strict rules constrained her choices.

严格的规定限制了她的选择。
common 使结果受资源限制

📖 当资金、时间或材料这根“绳子”不够长时，它会把最后能达到的规模或效果压低。

💡 常用句型是“limited resources constrain the result/growth/output”或“something is constrained by resources”。这里的宾语通常是增长、产量、表现或结果，强调上限被压低，而不是某人被直接强迫。这个用法常见于商业、经济和技术语境，正式程度较高。

transitive

A lack of funding constrained the project's growth.

资金不足限制了这个项目的发展。

constrains present,singular,third-person constraining participle,present constrained participle,past constrained past

📘 英文释义 (WordNet) 共 3 组

severely restrict in scope or extent;

同义词集: stiffen tighten tighten up constrain

tighten the rules

stiffen the regulations

上位: bound, confine, limit, restrict, throttle, trammel

to close within bounds, or otherwise limit or deprive of free movement; ; ;

同义词集: restrain confine hold constrain

This holds the local until the express passengers change trains

About a dozen animals were held inside the stockade

The illegal immigrants were held at a detention center

The terrorists held the journalists for ransom

上位: disable, disenable, incapacitate 下位: bind, fold, ground, impound, pen up, pound, pound up, tie down, tie up, truss

compel to behave in a certain way;

同义词集: enforce impose constrain

Social relations impose courtesy

duty constrains one to act often contrary to one's desires or inclinations

上位: compel, obligate, oblige

🌳 词源

源自中古英语和古法语，最终来自拉丁语，原意与“拉紧、捆紧”有关。

Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin cōn- Proto-Indo-European *streyg- Proto-Indo-European *-né- Proto-Indo-European *-ti Proto-Indo-European *strinégti Proto-Italic *stringō Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *stréngʰeti Proto-Italic *strengō Latin stringō Latin cōnstringōder. Old French constreindrebor. Middle English constreinen English constrain From Middle English constreinen, from Old French constreindre, from Latin cōnstringō, from cōn- (“with, together”) + stringō (“to draw, bind or tie tight”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *streyg- (“to stroke, to shear, stiff”).

🔄 变式

constrained past constraining present constrains present

🏷 单词标签 & 词根