limit

limit — 名詞

1. the highest or most extreme point — in size, quantity, or degree — that somethin

1.名詞B1
釋義

上限；極限

事物可能或允許的最大值

the highest or most extreme point — in size, quantity, or degree — that something can reach or that someone is allowed to reach.

例句

The speed limit on this road is fifty kilometres per hour.

這條路的速限是每小時五十公里。

speed limit: fixed maximum on roads

There is a strict limit on how much cash you can bring into the country.

你能帶入這個國家的現金有嚴格的上限。

limit on: preposition pattern showing what is restricted

同義詞
  • maximum

    the highest possible number or amount, more mathematical than 'limit'

  • ceiling

    an upper limit, especially on prices, wages, or budgets

  • cap

    an upper limit, often used informally in business or government contexts

反義詞
  • minimum

    the smallest possible or allowed amount

文法句型

limit + on + noun

the limit of + noun

用法筆記

This is the most general and frequent sense of 'limit'. Often appears with words like 'speed', 'age', 'time', 'credit' before it to specify what kind of limit is meant.

常見錯誤

❌The speed limit drives at 60 km/h.
✅The speed limit is 60 km/h.
💡'speed limit' is a fixed value or rule, not an active thing that drives.
❌They put a limit of the spending.
✅They put a limit on the spending.
💡the correct preposition is 'on', not 'of'.

2. the point beyond which having more of something would be too much or would cause

2.名詞B2
釋義

限度；適量

足夠但不超過的合理範圍

the point beyond which having more of something would be too much or would cause problems, used especially in talking about what is reasonable or acceptable behaviour.

例句

You can spend whatever you like on gifts, within reasonable limits.

只要在合理範圍內，你可以想花多少就花多少。

within limits: fixed adverbial phrase showing acceptable range

Tuan knows his limits when it comes to drinking alcohol.

Tuan 知道自己在喝酒方面的限度。

know your limits: fixed collocation about self-awareness

同義詞
  • bounds

    limits of acceptable behaviour, more formal and often plural

  • boundaries

    limits defining what is acceptable, especially in relationships

文法句型

within limits

know one's limits

用法筆記

This sense almost always appears in the plural ('limits') or in the fixed phrases 'within limits' and 'know your limits'. Unlike sense 1, it does not refer to a specific number or measurement — it describes a general idea of what is reasonable.

常見錯誤

❌Please stay within the limit of politeness.
✅Please stay within the limits of politeness.
💡this sense uses the plural 'limits' when referring to general bounds of acceptable behaviour.

3. the highest degree of annoyance or frustration a person can tolerate, used in fi

3.名詞B2
釋義

極點；夠了

使人無法再忍受的惱人事物

the highest degree of annoyance or frustration a person can tolerate, used in fixed exclamatory phrases to show that something is unacceptable.

例句

When the Wi-Fi went down again, Faisal shouted, "That's the limit!"

當 Wi-Fi 又斷線時，Faisal 大喊：「真是夠了！」

that's the limit: fixed informal phrase expressing exasperation

The children's constant shouting was the limit for Aylin after a long workday.

小孩不停的喊叫聲讓 Aylin 在漫長工作一天後忍無可忍。

同義詞
  • last straw

    the final small problem that makes someone lose patience

  • breaking point

    the moment when someone can no longer cope

文法句型

that's the limit

the limit for someone

用法筆記

This sense is restricted to informal, mostly British English. The phrase 'That's the limit!' functions as an exclamation of exasperation, similar in meaning to 'That's the last straw!' or 'I've had enough!'.

常見錯誤

❌That is a limit!' (trying to express exasperation)
✅That's the limit!
💡the definite article 'the' is essential in this fixed expression.

4. the maximum concentration of alcohol legally permitted in a person's blood while

4.名詞B2
釋義

酒測標準

駕駛時血液酒精濃度的法定上限

the maximum concentration of alcohol legally permitted in a person's blood while they are driving a vehicle.

例句

The legal limit for drivers in this country is 0.05 per cent.

這個國家的駕駛酒測法定標準是百分之零點零五。

legal limit: fixed collocation in drink-driving law

Rachid was stopped by the police and found to be over the limit.

Rachid 被警察攔下，發現他酒測超標。

over the limit: prepositional phrase showing violation

同義詞
  • legal limit

    the precise synonym, used especially in official and news contexts

  • BAC limit

    technical term for blood alcohol concentration limit

文法句型

legal limit

over/above/below the limit

用法筆記

When used without modifiers in news or conversation ('the limit'), this sense is most commonly understood as referring to the blood alcohol limit for driving. The phrases 'over the limit' and 'below the limit' are especially frequent in this context.

常見錯誤

❌He was driving over the alcohol limit.
✅He was driving over the limit.
💡in this context, 'the limit' alone is understood to mean the drink-driving limit.

5. the point at which a person's ability to continue, cope, or tolerate something c

5.名詞B1
釋義

底線

某人無法再繼續承受的程度

the point at which a person's ability to continue, cope, or tolerate something comes to an end because they have used all their strength, patience, or resources.

例句

After working twelve hours straight, Ezra had reached his limit.

連續工作十二小時後，Ezra 已經達到他的極限了。

reach one's limit: verb phrase showing end of endurance

The hikers were exhausted and knew they had reached the limit of their strength.

健行者們筋疲力竭，知道自己的體力已經到了極限。

同義詞
  • breaking point

    the specific moment when something fails or someone gives up

  • capacity

    the maximum amount someone can handle, more neutral in tone

反義詞
  • infinity

    an endless, limitless amount or extent

文法句型

reach one's limit

the limit of + noun

to the limit

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (MAXIMUM ALLOWED): sense 1 is about external rules or physical capacities, while sense 5 is about personal endurance. Frequently used with verbs of reaching ('reach', 'hit', 'push to') and personal possessives ('my limit', 'her limit').

常見錯誤

❌I have reached my limits of patience.
✅I have reached the limit of my patience.
💡when referring to a single person's capacity, use the singular 'limit'.

limit — 動詞