1.
to control, to restrain, to hold back
To restrain or check someone or something, preventing them from acting freely. Often used for physically or verbally stopping someone.
彼を手で制した。
I held him back with my hand.
怒りそうな部下を制して話を続けた。
I restrained the subordinate who was about to get angry and continued talking.
群衆の動きを制するのは難しかった。
It was difficult to control the movement of the crowd.
2.
to win, to dominate, to gain control of
To gain victory or dominance over something, especially in competitive or strategic contexts.
決勝を制した。
They won the final.
地元チームが大会を制した。
The local team dominated the tournament.
先手を打って試合の流れを制した。
By making the first move, they seized control of the game's momentum.
A literary/formal verb. In sense 1, often describes physically gesturing someone to stop or verbally restraining someone. In sense 2, frequently used in sports and competition reporting.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 〜を制する (to restrain ~; to win ~)
- 手で制する (to hold back with one's hand)
- 大会を制する (to win a tournament)
- 決勝を制する (to win the final)