控制 (kòngzhì)

控制 means to regulate, restrain, or keep something within desired limits, whether physical, emotional, or systemic.

Meanings

[verb] To control, to manage, to regulate, to restrain.
[noun] Control, management, regulation.

Example Sentences

政府采取了一系列措施来控制物价上涨的速度。 Zhèngfǔ cǎiqǔ le yī xìliè cuòshī lái kòngzhì wùjià shàngzhǎng de sùdù. The government took a series of measures to control the pace of price increases.

在压力极大的情况下，他依然能够控制自己的情绪，冷静应对。 Zài yālì jí dà de qíngkuàng xià, tā yīrán nénggòu kòngzhì zìjǐ de qíngxù, lěngjìng yìngduì. Even under extreme pressure, he was still able to control his emotions and respond calmly.

这场火灾最终被消防员控制住了，没有造成人员伤亡。 Zhè chǎng huǒzāi zuìzhōng bèi xiāofángyuán kòngzhì zhù le, méiyǒu zàochéng rényuán shāngyáng. The fire was eventually brought under control by firefighters, with no casualties.

远程控制系统让工程师能够在数千公里外操作设备。 Yuǎnchéng kòngzhì xìtǒng ràng gōngchéngshī nénggòu zài shù qiān gōnglǐ wài cāozuò shèbèi. The remote control system allows engineers to operate equipment from thousands of kilometers away.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
控制情绪	to control emotions
控制风险	to control risk
失去控制	to lose control
遥控控制	remote control
严格控制	to strictly control

Usage Notes

控制 can refer to internal self-restraint (控制情绪) or external regulation (控制质量). The phrase 失去控制 (to lose control) is very common for describing situations that spiral out of hand. Compare with 管理 (guǎnlǐ — to manage/administer), which suggests organized oversight rather than active restraint.

Memory Hook

控 contains the character for "empty cavity" suggesting a grip from above, and 制 means "to regulate/制度 system" — holding a tight grip to keep something within a system is control.