N2 · Expressions (N2)
にかぎらず, にかぎる: not only; the best
not limited to; only; nothing beats
One verb, "to limit", in three phrases: not limited to, limited to, and the best there is.
限る is "to limit", and it gives three everyday phrases. に限らず, "not limited to", widens a statement beyond the obvious case: 子どもに限らず、大人も, "not just children — adults too". The second half usually carries も or a word such as 誰でも.
に限り does the opposite and narrows: "only", "limited to". It is the language of notices and offers: 先着百名に限り, "first hundred people only"; 本日に限り, "today only".
に限る at the end of a sentence says that something is the best choice there is: 夏は冷たいビールに限る, "on a summer day nothing beats a cold beer". It is personal and conversational — taste and experience — and it also follows verbs: 疲れたときは寝るに限る.
English speakers put に限る into factual sentences, where it does not belong. "The highest mountain in Japan is Fuji" is a fact, not a preference, and に限る would make it sound as if the speaker had tried the other mountains and liked Fuji best.
The form
| not limited to | 子どもに限らず |
| only (notices, offers) | 先着百名に限り |
| not just a matter of | 日本に限ったことではない |
| nothing beats (after a noun) | ビールに限る |
| the best thing to do (after a verb) | 寝るに限る |
| of all times (a complaint) | 急いでいるときに限って |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
に限らず widens: not only this case, but others too.
この問題は日本に限らず、多くの国で見られる。This problem is found not only in Japan but in many countries.
に限り narrows: only this case. It is common on signs and in offers.
本日に限り、全品半額です。Today only, everything is half price.
に限る at the end of a sentence: this is the best choice, in my experience.
風邪のときは、温かくして寝るに限る。When you have a cold, the best thing is to keep warm and sleep.
に限る expresses a preference, not a fact.
旅行は平日に限る。If you are travelling, weekdays are the only way to do it.
A closer look
にかぎって: of all times
A fourth phrase from the same verb is に限って, and it is mostly a complaint. It picks out the one occasion when something went wrong, as if the world had chosen it on purpose: 急いでいるときに限って、電車が遅れる, "the train is always late on exactly the day I am in a hurry".
English expresses this with "of all days" or "it would be the one day that", and the feeling is the same: an annoying coincidence that seems too neat to be chance. The sentence is nearly always about something unwelcome.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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に限って follows a person and the sentence is negative
it expresses trust rather than a complaint: "he, of all people, would never".
うちの息子に限って、うそをつくはずがない。My son, of all people, would never tell a lie.
The phrase singles out one case. In a complaint it singles out the worst moment; in a denial it singles out the one person the speaker would vouch for.
How to spot it
- に限らず
- に限り
- に限る
- に限って
- に限ったことではない
Example sentences
このアプリは若者に限らず、幅広い世代に使われている。This app is used not just by the young but by people of every age.
会員の方に限り、入場無料です。Admission is free for members only.
暑い日は冷たいそばに限る。On a hot day, nothing beats cold soba.
遅刻が多いのは彼に限ったことではない。He is not the only one who is often late.
日曜日に限らず、祝日も休みです。We are closed not only on Sundays but on public holidays too.
迷ったときは、専門家に聞くに限る。When in doubt, the best thing is to ask an expert.
7 more example sentences
料理に限らず、彼は何をやっても上手だ。It is not just cooking — he is good at whatever he does.
この割引は学生に限ります。This discount is for students only.
応募は一人一回に限ります。Each person may apply once only.
疲れたときは、温泉に限る。When you are worn out, nothing beats a hot spring.
傘を持っていない日に限って、雨が降る。It always rains on the one day I have not got my umbrella.
経験者に限らず、初心者も歓迎します。Beginners are welcome as well as experienced people.
言葉を覚えるには、毎日使うに限る。To learn words, the best way is to use them every day.
Worth knowing (1)
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Not the same as にかかわらず
に限らず and にかかわらず are both translated with "not" phrases and are easy to swap. に限らず means "not only X": X is included and so is more. にかかわらず means "regardless of X": X makes no difference to the outcome.
天候にかかわらず、試合は行われます。The match will take place whatever the weather.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
に限る means "nothing beats", and it reports a preference. Which mountain is highest is measured, not preferred, so the sentence wants a plain だ or です. Keep に限る for food, habits, remedies and ways of doing things that you can recommend from experience.
にかぎらず widens, にかぎり narrows, and にかぎる names your favourite.
Your turn
9 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.