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يقيّد (yuqayyid) is a verb meaning 'to restrict,' 'to limit,' 'to confine,' or 'to bind.' It conveys the action of imposing constraints or conditions on something or someone, reducing their freedom or scope of action. The word is commonly used in legal, administrative, and everyday contexts when discussing limitations or obligations.
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القانون يقيّد حرية التنقل في أوقات الطوارئ.
Al-qānūn yuqayyid ḥurriyyat al-tanqul fī awqāt al-ṭawāri'.
The law restricts freedom of movement during emergencies.
العقد يقيّد الموظف بشروط معينة.
Al-'aqd yuqayyid al-muwazzaf bi-shurūṭ mu'ayyina.
The contract binds the employee with certain conditions.
لا تقيّد نفسك بتوقعات الآخرين.
Lā tuqayyid nafsak bi-tawaqqu'āt al-ākhirīn.
Don't restrict yourself with others' expectations.
الميزانية المحدودة تقيّد خياراتنا.
Al-mīzāniyyah al-muḥaddadah tuqayyid khiyāratinā.
The limited budget restricts our options.
يقيّدون المجرمين بالقيود أثناء النقل.
Yuqayyidūn al-mujrimīn bi-al-quyūd athnā' al-naqL.
They shackle the criminals during transport.
In Arabic legal and administrative discourse, يقيّد is frequently used when discussing laws, contracts, and regulations. The word carries the weight of formal limitations and is often encountered in official documents, news reports about legal matters, and discussions about rights and freedoms. In Islamic contexts, the term may also appear when discussing religious obligations or conditions.
Remember that يقيّد is a transitive verb requiring a direct object—you must specify what is being restricted or bound. The word can be used literally (binding with physical restraints) or figuratively (imposing conditions or limitations). Pay attention to context to distinguish between these uses, as English may require different translations depending on whether the restriction is physical, legal, or circumstantial.
The Arabic verb يقيّد (yuqayyid) is derived from the root ق-ي-د (q-y-d) and means "to restrict," "to limit," "to confine," or "to bind." It is a Form II verb (القياسي المضعّف), which intensifies the meaning of its root. This word appears frequently in Modern Standard Arabic and is essential for discussions about constraints, obligations, and limitations.
يقيّد can be used in both literal and figurative contexts. When used literally, it refers to physical binding or restraining, such as when law enforcement officers use restraints on suspects. The phrase "قيّدوا المجرم بالقيود" (they shackled the criminal with chains) exemplifies this literal usage. Figuratively, it refers to imposing restrictions, conditions, or limitations, as in "القانون يقيّد حرية التنقل" (the law restricts freedom of movement).
As a transitive verb, يقيّد always requires a direct object to complete its meaning. In the present tense, it takes the form yuqayyid (he restricts), tuqayyid (she restricts), nuqayyid (we restrict), and yuqayyidūn (they restrict, masculine). The past tense form is قيّد (qayyada). The passive voice "is restricted" is expressed as قُيّد (quyida). Understanding these conjugations is crucial for proper usage in both written and spoken Arabic.
In legal and administrative contexts, يقيّد is indispensable. Contracts frequently use this verb to specify the limitations and conditions binding parties. For example: "يقيّد العقد الموظف بساعات عمل محددة" (the contract restricts the employee to specific working hours). In news reports and political discourse, you'll encounter phrases like "يقيّد الحكومة حرية الصحافة" (the government restricts press freedom), illustrating the word's prominence in discussions about rights and governance.
The noun قيد (qayd) means a restriction, bond, or constraint, while the plural قيود (quyūd) refers to multiple restrictions. The adjective مقيّد (muqayyad) means "restricted" or "bound." Understanding these related forms helps learners recognize the word family and improves comprehension in context. The verb is often paired with abstract nouns like "الحرية" (freedom) or "الخيارات" (options) to discuss various types of limitations.
The primary antonym of يقيّد is يحرّر (to free or liberate), which represents the opposite action of removing restrictions. Another important antonym is يوسّع (to expand or widen), which expands rather than limits possibilities. These contrasting verbs help define the semantic range of يقيّد and are useful for expressing opposing ideas in Arabic discussions.
In contemporary Arabic media and formal writing, يقيّد appears regularly when discussing legal amendments, policy changes, and constitutional matters. Understanding this word is essential for following news, legal documents, and academic texts. For learners, recognizing يقيّد and its conjugations is crucial for engaging with authentic Arabic content that addresses governance, regulations, and social limitations.
When learning يقيّد, focus on recognizing it in various contexts and understanding which restrictions or limitations are being discussed. Practice using it with different objects: restricting freedom, limiting options, binding individuals with contracts, or confining movement. Pay attention to whether the context is literal (physical restraint) or figurative (imposed limitations). This verb is particularly important for advanced learners moving toward professional, legal, or journalistic Arabic.