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I was trying to understand the differences between 限定 and 制限, but I don't really get it: I found that the former is generally a business term seen as positive and special, yet as example sentences I found 切符の数は限定されていた (which isn't really positive) and 今話し合っている問題だけに発言を限定してく下さい, which isn't necessarily business related.

Here they say 制限 is an upper/lower limit, while 限定 is to assign some amount, which I'm not sure is right/complete since again I found examples seemingly going against this, like この版は７、０００部に限定されている and 彼は会員数を２０に制限した, which kinda seems similar, both imposing a man-made limit to something.

In this question there is some explanation, but it doesn't cover 限定.

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I think these are good examples to understand the difference between them easily.

このパーティーの参加者は、30歳に限定されている. It means "Only 30-year-old people can join this party".

このパーティーの参加者は、30歳に制限されている is unnatural because we can't know whether it means an upper limit or a lower limit. It must be "このパーティーの参加者は、30歳以上(以下)に制限されている. 限定 can be also used in this sentence as the same meaning.

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  • So in この版は７、０００部に限定されている there is 限定 because they printed exactly 7000 copies, while in 彼は会員数を２０に制限した there is 制限 because they accept up to 20 members (while it'd be fine also if they had less requests)? If so, is in 彼は会員数を２０に制限した implied that 20 is an upper limit, and not like a lower limit to be able to get started? Given your reply I'd expect something like 彼は会員数を２０以下に制限した.
    – Mauro
    Oct 9, 2019 at 14:55
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    彼は会員数を２０以下に制限した is better, but I think 以下 can be omitted when it is obvious such as the number of attendance or the speed limit.
    – Yuuichi Tam
    Oct 9, 2019 at 15:29

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