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節制 (せっせい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
moderation ; self-restraint ; temperance
Refers to controlling one's desires, appetites, or spending; often used in contexts of health, finance, or personal discipline. Can be used as a noun, suru-verb, or adjectivally with の.
He decided to practice temperance in drinking.
Similar words 節せつ 約やく 節約 focuses on economizing or saving resources (money, time, energy), while 節制 is about self-restraint and moderation in consumption or behavior.
自じ 制せい 自制 is self-control or self-restraint in a broader psychological sense, often used for controlling emotions or impulses, whereas 節制 is more about moderating physical appetites or habits.
Etymology Compound of 節 (setsu, 'moderate; regulate') and 制 (sei, 'control; system'). The word entered Japanese from Chinese-derived vocabulary, and its meaning has remained stable as 'moderation' or 'self-restraint'.
