限り
🃏 Flashcard
限り
kagiri
Tap to reveal usage
as long as; while… is the case; as far as
N2
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N2
Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage
Reading
kagiri
Post ID
51037
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
as long as; while… is the case; as far as
📖 How to use it
限り sets a condition or scope, meaning 'as long as' or 'as far as'.
Attaches to
Attach to a verb in its dictionary form, ている form, or ない form, or to a noun + の, or to a な-adjective + である. Also used with 見る, 聞く, 知る in the form 知る限り, 見る限り, 聞く限り.
限り expresses a limit or condition under which something holds true. When it means 'as long as', it indicates that while the condition continues, the result is guaranteed. For example, 頑張る限り、夢は叶う means 'as long as you keep trying, your dream will come true.' It can also mean 'as far as', based on the speaker's knowledge or observation, as in 私が知る限り、彼は真面目だ ('as far as I know, he is serious').
頑張る限り、夢は叶うよ。
Ganbaru kagiri, yume wa kanau yo.
As long as you keep trying, your dreams will come true.
私が知る限り、彼は嘘をついたことはない。
Watashi ga shiru kagiri, kare wa uso o tsuita koto wa nai.
As far as I know, he has never lied.
健康である限り、仕事を続けたいです。
Kenkou de aru kagiri, shigoto o tsuzuketai desu.
As long as I am healthy, I want to keep working.
Not うちは
うちは means 'while (a state continues)' and focuses on a period, often with a nuance of change after it. 限り focuses on a condition that guarantees something. For example, 元気なうちに (while you are energetic) vs. 元気な限り (as long as you are energetic).
Register
限り is used in both spoken and written Japanese, but certain set phrases like 知る限り are more common in formal or expository writing.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
限り
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat 限り three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using 限り. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N2 Patterns
← Previous
かえって
on the contrary; rather; all the more
Next →
甲斐がある
it’s worth one’s efforts to do something
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern 限り mean?
▼
As long as; while… is the case; as far as
What JLPT level is 限り?
▼
Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use 限り in a sentence?
▼
Attach 限り (kagiri) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is 限り formal or casual Japanese?
▼
限り is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember 限り long-term?
▼
Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.