受制于
to be constrained by; to be held back by
Structure
A 受制于 B（条件／资源／别人） ； A 在很大程度上／长期 受制于 B
What it means
A is limited by B, something it cannot control: a condition, a resource or another party. Read it shòu zhì yú (受 suffer + 制 control + 于 by).
How it is built
A + (在很大程度上／长期) + 受制于 + B: 这个县城的发展长期受制于交通 (the county town was long held back by poor transport).
When to use it
Formal: economic and policy writing, often with 很大程度上, 长期 or 不再. B is often 资金, 技术, 天气, 原材料 or people; 受制于人 = at others' mercy (lesson 5-5). In speech say 被…卡住 or 得看….
Watch out
It already carries the passive sense, so no 被: ✗ 被受制于资金 ✓ 受制于资金.
Examples
降息的效果在很大程度上受制于需求和信心。
What a rate cut achieves is largely held back by demand and confidence.
这个县城的发展长期受制于交通，修通高速公路以后才好起来。
The county town was long held back by poor transport, and only began to thrive once the motorway was built.
关键技术不能受制于人，必须自己掌握。
Key technologies must not be left at the mercy of others; we have to master them ourselves.
Learn this in Lesson 190 · HSK 7–9: 央行降息了 (The central bank cuts rates)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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