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B1 verb #24 가장 일반적인 9분 분량

confine

상위 24

At the A1 level, the word 'confine' might be a bit difficult, but you can understand it as 'to keep inside.' Imagine you have a dog and you want it to stay in the garden. You 'confine' the dog to the garden. It means the dog cannot go out. Or, if you are very sick and must stay in bed, you are 'confined to bed.' It is like a rule that says you must stay in one place. Think of it as 'staying in a small space.'

At the A2 level, 'confine' means to keep someone or something in a certain place or to limit an activity. For example, if you are talking to a friend, you might say, 'Let's confine our talk to the weekend plans.' This means you only want to talk about the weekend, not about school or work. It is a way to focus on one thing. You can also use it for physical spaces, like 'The birds are confined to a large cage.' It is a more formal way of saying 'keep in' or 'limit to.'

At the B1 level, you should understand 'confine' as a verb that describes restricting something within boundaries. This can be physical, like being 'confined to a small room,' or abstract, like 'confining a discussion to a specific topic.' It is often used in the passive voice: 'He was confined to a wheelchair after the accident.' Notice that we almost always use the preposition 'to' after 'confine.' It is a useful word for describing limits in professional or medical contexts.

At the B2 level, 'confine' is used to describe precise boundaries and limitations. It often appears in formal reports or news stories. For instance, 'The damage was confined to the engine,' means only the engine was damaged, and nothing else. It implies a successful effort to stop something from spreading, like 'confining a fire' or 'confining an outbreak.' You should also be aware of the noun form, 'confinement,' which refers to the state of being restricted, often used in legal or historical contexts.

At the C1 level, 'confine' is a tool for academic and professional precision. It is used to define the scope of research or legal arguments. For example, 'The study confines its scope to urban environments,' clearly delineates the research boundaries. You might also encounter it in literature to describe psychological states, such as being 'confined by one's own fears.' It suggests a lack of agency or a structural limitation. Understanding the nuance between 'confine,' 'circumscribe,' and 'constrain' is important at this level.

At the C2 level, 'confine' is used with high levels of sophistication to discuss complex limitations. It can describe the philosophical boundaries of human knowledge or the intricate restrictions of international law. For instance, 'The debate was confined to the ontological implications of the theory.' Here, 'confine' is not just about a physical space but about the very limits of thought and existence. You should be able to use it reflexively and in various idiomatic expressions with perfect prepositional accuracy.

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁

confine 30초 만에

To keep someone or something within specific limits or boundaries.
Commonly used for physical spaces, medical rest, or limiting the scope of topics.
Usually followed by the preposition 'to' (e.g., confined to bed).
Can be used in formal, academic, medical, and legal contexts.

The verb confine is a versatile word that describes the act of keeping something or someone within a specific set of boundaries. Imagine a bird in a cage or a prisoner in a cell; they are confined physically. However, the word extends far beyond physical walls. In modern English, we use it to describe the limitation of ideas, the scope of a project, or even the spread of a disease. When you confine something, you are essentially drawing a line in the sand and saying, 'You cannot go past this point.' It is a word about control, restriction, and definition.

Physical Restriction: This is the most literal use. It refers to keeping a person or animal in a closed space. For example, 'The dog was confined to the backyard.' It suggests a lack of freedom to roam.

During the heavy snowstorm, the residents were confined to their homes for three days.

Abstract Limitation: This refers to limiting the scope of a discussion or activity. If a teacher says, 'Please confine your questions to the topic of biology,' they are asking you not to talk about chemistry or physics. It is about maintaining focus.

The CEO decided to confine the new marketing campaign to social media platforms only.

Medical Context: In medicine, patients might be confined to bed due to illness or injury. This means they are required to stay in bed to recover. Similarly, an outbreak might be confined to a specific village, meaning it hasn't spread elsewhere.

After the surgery, she was confined to a wheelchair for several months.

The fire department managed to confine the blaze to the basement, preventing it from reaching the upper floors.

Please confine your speech to three minutes so that everyone has a chance to talk.

In summary, 'confine' is about setting limits. Whether those limits are physical walls, medical requirements, or the boundaries of a conversation, the word always implies a restriction of movement or scope. It is a powerful word for describing how we organize and control the world around us.

Using 'confine' correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical patterns. It is most frequently used as a transitive verb, meaning it takes an object. You confine *something* or *someone*. It is also very common in the passive voice, where the subject is the one being restricted. Let's explore the various ways this word appears in natural English sentences.

The 'Confine Someone/Something to' Pattern: This is the standard active construction. You identify the agent doing the confining, the object being confined, and the boundary. Example: 'The police confined the protesters to a designated area.'

The scientist tried to confine the experiment to a controlled environment.

The Passive 'Be Confined to' Pattern: This is perhaps the most frequent usage in daily life, especially regarding health or physical space. Example: 'He was confined to bed with a fever.' Here, the focus is on the person experiencing the restriction.

The discussion was confined to financial matters, ignoring the social impact of the decision.

Confining Oneself: You can use 'confine' reflexively to show self-discipline or self-restriction. Example: 'I will confine myself to two cups of coffee a day.'

She decided to confine herself to the library until the essay was finished.

Geographical and Logical Boundaries: In news and reports, 'confine' is used to describe the limits of a phenomenon. Example: 'The flooding was confined to the coastal regions.'

The conflict was confined to the border provinces and did not reach the capital.

The judge told the lawyer to confine his arguments to the evidence presented in court.

Whether you are talking about a physical space, a medical condition, or a logical boundary, 'confine' always follows a similar logic: Subject + Confine + Object + To + Boundary. Mastering this pattern will allow you to use the word with confidence in both formal and informal settings.

'Confine' is a word that bridges the gap between everyday speech and formal documentation. You will encounter it in news broadcasts, medical offices, legal proceedings, and academic environments. Understanding the context in which it is used helps you grasp the subtle nuances of its meaning.

In the News: Journalists use 'confine' to describe the limits of disasters or social issues. You might hear: 'The fire was confined to the industrial park,' or 'The protest was confined to the city center.' It helps provide a clear picture of the scale of an event.

News Anchor: 'Authorities are working to confine the oil spill before it reaches the wildlife sanctuary.'

In Academic Writing: Scholars use 'confine' to define the scope of their research. A researcher might write: 'This study will confine its analysis to the economic data from 2010 to 2020.' This tells the reader exactly what the paper will and will not cover.

Professor: 'For your final essay, please confine your research to primary sources only.'

In Legal and Official Contexts: In law, 'confine' often relates to detention or the scope of a legal argument. A judge might order a defendant to be 'confined to their home' (house arrest). In a courtroom, a judge might tell a witness to 'confine your answer to a simple yes or no.'

The treaty was confined to trade agreements and did not include military cooperation.

In Everyday Conversation: While slightly more formal than 'keep' or 'limit,' people use 'confine' when they want to be precise. You might hear a parent say, 'Please confine your toys to the playroom,' or a friend say, 'I'm trying to confine my spending this month.'

Friend: 'I'm going to confine my social media use to just one hour a day.'

The doctor said the infection was confined to the outer ear and should clear up quickly.

By paying attention to these contexts, you can see how 'confine' functions as a tool for precision. It helps speakers and writers define boundaries clearly, whether those boundaries are physical, legal, or conceptual.

While 'confine' is a relatively straightforward word, there are a few common pitfalls that learners and even native speakers occasionally fall into. These mistakes usually involve prepositions, confusion with similar words, or using the word in an insensitive way. Let's break down these common errors so you can avoid them.

Wrong Preposition: The most common mistake is using 'in' or 'at' instead of 'to'. While you are confined *within* a space, the standard idiom is 'confined to'. Incorrect: 'He was confined in his room.' Correct: 'He was confined to his room.'

Incorrect: The cat was confined in the carrier. Correct: The cat was confined to the carrier.

Confusing 'Confine' with 'Confirm': Because they look and sound somewhat similar, some learners mix up 'confine' (to restrict) and 'confirm' (to verify). Make sure you are using the right word for the context. You confirm a booking, but you confine a prisoner.

Incorrect: Please confine your flight details. Correct: Please confirm your flight details.

Sensitivity with Disability: As mentioned before, saying someone is 'confined to a wheelchair' can be seen as offensive or outdated because it implies the person is trapped or limited by the device, whereas the wheelchair actually provides them with mobility. It is better to say 'uses a wheelchair.'

Better: He uses a wheelchair for mobility. (Instead of: He is confined to a wheelchair.)

Overusing 'Confine' for 'Limit': While 'confine' and 'limit' are synonyms, 'confine' is much stronger. It implies a total restriction within a boundary. If you just want to say you aren't doing much of something, 'limit' or 'restrict' is often better. 'Confine' sounds more like you are trapped.

Natural: I'm trying to limit my sugar intake. (Overly dramatic: I'm trying to confine my sugar intake.)

Incorrect: The meeting was confined at the conference room. Correct: The meeting was confined to the conference room.

By keeping these common mistakes in mind, you can use 'confine' more accurately and sensitively. Remember: use 'to', don't confuse it with 'confirm', be mindful of disability contexts, and use it when you mean a strong restriction.

English is rich with words that mean 'to limit' or 'to restrict.' While 'confine' is a great choice, knowing its synonyms and how they differ can help you choose the exact right word for your situation. Let's compare 'confine' with some of its closest relatives.

Confine vs. Restrict: 'Restrict' is the most common alternative. It means to put a limit on something. However, 'confine' usually implies a physical or very strict boundary, while 'restrict' can be more general. You restrict someone's access to a website, but you confine a prisoner to a cell.

The government restricted travel during the pandemic, but some people were confined to quarantine hotels.

Confine vs. Limit: 'Limit' is the broadest word. It just means to stop something from increasing or going beyond a certain point. 'Confine' is more about keeping something *inside* a space. You limit the number of guests, but you confine the party to the living room.

The power of the monarch was circumscribed by the new constitution.

Confine vs. Imprison: 'Imprison' is specifically for legal punishment in a jail. 'Confine' is broader; you can be confined to your bed by illness, but you wouldn't say you are imprisoned by illness (unless you are being very poetic).

The suspect was imprisoned for ten years, during which time he was confined to a high-security wing.

Confine vs. Enclose: 'Enclose' is usually used for objects or physical areas. You enclose a letter in an envelope or enclose a garden with a fence. 'Confine' is more about the restriction of movement or scope.

The garden is enclosed by a stone wall, which helps confine the pets to the property.

Please constrain your enthusiasm until the official announcement is made.

By understanding these subtle differences, you can choose the word that best fits your meaning. 'Confine' is perfect for strict, bounded restriction, while 'limit' and 'restrict' offer more general ways to talk about boundaries.

How Formal Is It?

격식체

중립

비격식체

Child friendly

속어

재미있는 사실

The root 'finis' in Latin means 'end' or 'limit'. This is the same root found in 'finish', 'final', and 'finite'. So, to confine something is literally to put an 'end' or 'limit' around it.

발음 가이드

UK /kənˈfaɪn/

US /kənˈfaɪn/

Second syllable: con-FINE

라임이 맞는 단어

define refine align design assign benign divine shine wine mine

자주 하는 실수

Pronouncing the 'o' as a strong 'o' (like 'cone-fine'). It should be a schwa /ə/.
Confusing the pronunciation with 'confirm'.
Stressing the first syllable.
Ending with a 't' sound (confint).
Mixing up the 'i' sound with 'fin' (like 'con-fin'). It must be a long 'i'.

난이도

독해 3/5

Common in news and books, but requires understanding prepositions.

쓰기 4/5

Tricky to use correctly with the preposition 'to' and passive voice.

말하기 3/5

Useful for setting boundaries in meetings or discussions.

듣기 2/5

Easy to hear, though can be confused with 'confirm'.

다음에 무엇을 배울까

선수 학습

limit keep inside room stay

다음에 배울 것

restrict constrain circumscribe boundary scope

고급

ontological confines jurisdictional confinement immurement

알아야 할 문법

Passive Voice with 'Be'

He *was confined* to his room.

Prepositional Idioms

Confine *to* (not 'in' or 'at').

Reflexive Pronouns

She confined *herself* to the library.

Transitive Verb Object

The fence *confines the sheep*.

Noun as Plural

The *confines* of the city.

수준별 예문

The cat is confined to the house.

The cat must stay inside.

Confined + to + place.

Please confine your toys to your room.

Keep your toys in your room.

Imperative use.

He was confined to bed because he was sick.

He had to stay in bed.

Passive voice: was confined.

The dog is confined to the backyard.

The dog stays in the yard.

Physical boundary.

We should confine the meeting to one hour.

The meeting should only be one hour.

Time limit.

The water was confined to the bucket.

The water stayed in the bucket.

Simple object.

Keep the birds confined to the cage.

Keep the birds in the cage.

Adjective-like use.

The fire was confined to the kitchen.

The fire only stayed in the kitchen.

Limiting damage.

The doctor told him to confine his diet to healthy foods.

Only eat healthy food.

Confine + object + to + category.

The sheep were confined to the field by a fence.

The fence kept the sheep in.

Passive with 'by' for the agent.

Please confine your comments to the current topic.

Only talk about this topic.

Abstract boundary.

The storm was confined to the northern part of the city.

It only rained in the north.

Geographical limit.

She was confined to her office all day.

She stayed in her office.

Passive voice.

The search was confined to the local area.

They only searched nearby.

Scope of action.

Try to confine the mess to the kitchen.

Don't make a mess in other rooms.

Imperative.

The prisoner was confined to a small cell.

He was kept in a small room.

Legal context.

The infection was confined to the skin and did not spread.

The sickness stayed on the skin.

Medical context.

He was confined to a wheelchair after the accident.

He needed a wheelchair to move.

Common collocation.

The new law will confine the use of plastic bags.

The law will limit plastic bags.

Legal restriction.

Please confine your presentation to ten minutes.

Don't speak for more than ten minutes.

Time restriction.

The project was confined to a very small budget.

The project had little money.

Financial limit.

They were confined to the ship during the quarantine.

They couldn't leave the ship.

Quarantine context.

The debate was confined to economic issues.

They only talked about money.

Topic restriction.

The flood damage was confined to the basement.

Only the basement was flooded.

Damage assessment.

The firemen managed to confine the blaze to the warehouse.

They stopped the fire from spreading.

Action to limit spread.

The researcher decided to confine the study to female participants.

Only women were studied.

Scientific scope.

Her activities were confined by her physical condition.

Her health limited what she could do.

Passive with 'by'.

The dispute was confined to the two neighboring countries.

Only those two countries were involved.

Political context.

Please confine your remarks to the evidence at hand.

Only talk about the evidence.

Formal instruction.

The use of the library is confined to students and staff.

Only students and staff can use it.

Access restriction.

He was confined to his room as a punishment.

He was grounded.

Disciplinary context.

The virus was confined to a single laboratory.

The virus didn't escape.

Containment.

The author confines her analysis to the post-war period.

The book only covers after the war.

Literary/Academic scope.

The court's power is confined by the constitution.

The constitution limits the court.

Legal framework.

The symptoms were confined to a general feeling of malaise.

The person just felt generally unwell.

Medical nuance.

He felt confined by the expectations of his family.

His family's hopes made him feel trapped.

Metaphorical restriction.

The strike was confined to the transport sector.

Only transport workers went on strike.

Economic context.

The discussion should not be confined to mere technicalities.

We should talk about more than just details.

Negative imperative.

The species is confined to a small island in the Pacific.

It only lives on that island.

Biological distribution.

The problem is not confined to this specific department.

The whole company has this problem.

Organizational context.

The philosopher argued that human reason is confined by sensory experience.

We can only think about what we see/feel.

Philosophical context.

The treaty's effectiveness was confined by a lack of enforcement mechanisms.

The treaty didn't work because no one enforced it.

Institutional limitation.

She refused to be confined by the traditional roles of her society.

She didn't follow old-fashioned rules for women.

Social defiance.

The investigation was strictly confined to the events of that night.

They only looked at what happened then.

Rigorous scope.

The artist's genius could not be confined to a single medium.

The artist was good at many things.

Metaphorical expansion.

The economic downturn was not confined to the developed world.

Poor countries were also affected.

Global context.

The legal dispute was confined to the interpretation of a single clause.

They only argued about one sentence.

Legal minutiae.

He was confined to a life of solitude in the mountains.

He lived alone in the mountains.

Existential state.

자주 쓰는 조합

confined to bed

confined to a wheelchair

confine yourself to

strictly confined to

largely confined to

confine the spread

confine the fire

confine the discussion

be confined within

solitary confinement

자주 쓰는 구문

Confine your remarks to...

Confined space

Not confined to...

Confined to barracks

Confine one's attention to

Confine to the house

Confine to a small area

Confine to the limits of

Confine to memory

Confine to a role

자주 혼동되는 단어

confine vs confirm

To verify something. Confine is to restrict.

confine vs conferred

To give an honor or to discuss. Confine is to restrict.

confine vs refined

To make pure or elegant. Confine is to restrict.

관용어 및 표현

"Confined to quarters"

Similar to house arrest or military restriction.

The officer was confined to quarters pending the investigation.

formal/military

"Within the confines of"

Inside the boundaries of something.

Within the confines of this room, we are safe.

neutral

"Break the confines"

To escape from limitations.

She wanted to break the confines of her small-town life.

literary

"Confine to the dustbin of history"

To reject something as obsolete or forgotten.

That ideology has been confined to the dustbin of history.

political

"Confine to the shadows"

To keep something hidden or ignored.

The issue was confined to the shadows for years.

literary

"Confine to the sidelines"

To prevent someone from participating actively.

He was confined to the sidelines during the negotiations.

metaphorical

"Confine to the back burner"

To delay or give low priority (usually 'put on the back burner').

The project was confined to the back burner.

informal

"Confine to the page"

Something that only exists in writing and not in reality.

His bravery was confined to the page.

literary

"Confine to a narrow path"

To have very few choices or options.

The economy is confined to a narrow path of recovery.

journalistic

"Confine to the heart"

To keep a secret or feeling to oneself.

She confined her grief to her heart.

poetic

혼동하기 쉬운

confine vs Restrict

Both mean to limit.

Restrict is general; confine implies a strict boundary or physical space.

I restrict my sugar, but I am confined to my house.

confine vs Limit

Both mean to stop expansion.

Limit is about quantity or degree; confine is about space or scope.

Limit the guests to 10; confine the party to the yard.

confine vs Enclose

Both involve boundaries.

Enclose is about surrounding something; confine is about keeping it from leaving.

The wall encloses the garden and confines the dog.

confine vs Detain

Both involve keeping someone somewhere.

Detain is usually a temporary legal action; confine is a general state of restriction.

The police detained him, then he was confined to a cell.

confine vs Constrain

Both mean to limit freedom.

Constrain often implies external pressure or force; confine is more about the boundary itself.

Poverty constrained his choices, confining him to the slums.

문장 패턴

Subject + is confined to + Place

The cat is confined to the house.

Please confine + Object + to + Topic

Please confine your talk to the game.

Subject + was confined to + Medical Device

He was confined to a wheelchair.

Subject + managed to confine + Problem + to + Area

They managed to confine the fire to the kitchen.

Subject + confines + Scope + to + Period/Area

The study confines its scope to the 19th century.

Subject + feels confined by + Abstract Noun

She feels confined by her job.

The confines of + Noun

Within the confines of the treaty, we are safe.

Reflexive + confine + oneself + to + Activity

He confined himself to writing poetry.

어휘 가족

명사

동사

형용사

사용법

frequency

Common in news, medicine, and formal writing; moderate in daily speech.

자주 하는 실수

He was confined in bed. → He was confined to bed.
The idiomatic preposition for 'confine' is 'to'.
Please confine your flight. → Please confirm your flight.
Confine means to restrict; confirm means to verify.
The fire was confined at the kitchen. → The fire was confined to the kitchen.
Use 'to' to indicate the boundary.
She is confined to a wheelchair. → She uses a wheelchair.
The first version is often considered insensitive; the second is preferred.
I will confine my money. → I will limit my spending.
'Confine' is usually for space or scope, not general quantities like money.

팁

The Preposition 'To'

Always remember that 'confine' is almost always followed by 'to'. Whether it's a place, a topic, or a device, 'to' is your best friend.

Academic Precision

Use 'confine the scope' in your essays to show you have a specific focus. It makes your writing sound more professional and organized.

Disability Etiquette

Be mindful of using 'confined to a wheelchair.' Opt for 'wheelchair user' to be more respectful and accurate.

Confined Spaces

In a workplace, a 'confined space' is a technical term for a dangerous area. Always follow safety protocols if you see this sign.

Rhyme Time

Remember: 'Confine to the line.' This helps you remember that the word is about staying within a boundary.

Global Issues

When reading about viruses or fires, 'confine' is a positive word meaning the authorities are successfully stopping the spread.

Legal Scope

In law, 'confine' is used to keep arguments relevant. If a judge tells you to 'confine your remarks,' stop talking about other things immediately!

Bed Rest

'Confined to bed' is the standard way to say someone is too sick to get up. It's more formal than 'staying in bed'.

Self-Discipline

Use 'confine myself to' when talking about diets or study habits. 'I'll confine myself to one dessert a week.'

Avoid Overuse

Don't use 'confine' for every limit. If it's just a small limit, 'restrict' or 'limit' is usually more natural.

암기하기

기억법

Think of 'CON-FINE'. If you are 'CONfined', you might have to pay a 'FINE' if you leave the area. Or, think of a 'CON' (convict) who is 'FINE-d' to a cell.

시각적 연상

Imagine a bright red circle drawn around a person. They can move anywhere inside the circle, but they cannot step over the red line. That line is the 'confine'.

Word Web

Limit Restrict Boundary Prison Scope Bedrest Cage Fence

챌린지

Try to write three sentences using 'confine': one about a pet, one about a meeting, and one about a sickness. Make sure to use the word 'to' in each one!

어원

From the Middle French 'confiner', which comes from the Old French 'confin' (border/boundary). This traces back to the Latin 'confinis', meaning 'bordering on' or 'having a common boundary'.

원래 의미: To border on or to share a boundary with something else.

Italic -> Romance -> Germanic (via French)

문화적 맥락

Avoid using 'confined to a wheelchair' when speaking to or about people with disabilities; use 'wheelchair user' instead.

In the UK and US, 'solitary confinement' is a controversial legal topic. In Australia, 'confinement' is often used in the context of protecting unique wildlife.

'The Confines of the Crown' (Game/Story) Solitary Confinement (Legal term) Quarantine (Historical confinement)

실생활에서 연습하기

실제 사용 상황

Medical

confined to bed
confined to a wheelchair
confined to the hospital
infection confined to

Legal/Prison

solitary confinement
confined to quarters
confined to barracks
strictly confined

Academic/Business

confine the scope
confine the discussion
confine the research
confine the analysis

Emergency/Safety

confine the fire
confine the spill
confined space entry
confine the damage

Geography/Nature

confined to the region
confined to the island
confined to the coast
confined to the valley

대화 시작하기

"Do you think people are too confined by social media these days?"

"If you were confined to your house for a week, what three things would you want with you?"

"Should we confine our meeting today to just the most urgent topics?"

"How do you feel when you are confined to a small space like an airplane seat?"

"Do you think a person's potential is confined by their upbringing?"

일기 주제

Describe a time you felt confined by a situation. How did you handle it?

Write about the boundaries you set for yourself. What do you confine yourself to?

If you could break the confines of your current routine, what would you change?

Is it better to confine a discussion to facts, or should emotions be included?

Reflect on the phrase 'within the confines of the law.' Is it always enough?

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

It is grammatically possible if you are describing being inside something, but the standard idiom is 'confined to'. For example, 'He was confined to his room' is much more natural than 'He was confined in his room'.

Usually, yes, because it implies a loss of freedom. However, in technical or academic contexts (like 'confining a fire' or 'confining the scope of a study'), it is a positive or neutral act of control and precision.

'Confine' is the verb (to restrict). 'Confinement' is the noun (the state of being restricted). Example: 'They confined him (verb). His confinement lasted a week (noun).'

Yes. You can say 'Please confine your speech to five minutes.' This means you are setting a time boundary.

Many people in the disability community find it offensive because it suggests the person is a victim or trapped. It is better to say 'uses a wheelchair' or 'is a wheelchair user'.

It means 'inside the boundaries' of a place or a set of rules. For example, 'Within the confines of the office, you must wear a tie.'

Yes, it is very common. 'The outbreak was confined to a single village' means it did not spread to other villages.

It is more formal than 'keep' or 'limit,' but it is still used in everyday English, especially in medical or news contexts.

It is a form of imprisonment where a prisoner is kept alone in a cell, away from all other people. It is a very strict form of 'confining' someone.

Yes, it's called being reflexive. 'I confined myself to the library to study' means you forced yourself to stay there.