JLPT N1Notices, announcementsFinal

を限かぎりにas of …, for the last time

It names the last time. After that day or that occasion, something stops for good: a shop closes, a player retires, you give up a habit.

今年ことしを限かぎりに、年ねん賀が状じょうを送おくるのはやめます。

This will be the last year I send New Year's cards.

当とう館かんは九く月がつ三さん十じゅう日にちを限かぎりに閉へい館かんします。

This facility closes for good after 30 September.

How to form it

Time or occasion + を限かぎりに

The last day or the last occasion: most often the present one (今日きょう, 今こん月げつ末まつ, 今こん年ねん度ど, 今こん回かい), or a date (三さん月がつ末まつ).

Without を

Time + 限かぎりで

今日きょう限かぎりで, 本ほん日じつ限かぎりで: the same meaning, and heard in conversation too.

After it: What ends: やめる, 引いん退たいする, 閉へい店てんする, 終しゅう了りょうする, …ないことにする.
Tone: Final. A firm resolution, or an ending announced with some regret.
Where you'll meet it: Closing notices, retirement announcements, news, novels. With friends it is 今日きょうで or 今こん月げついっぱいで.

In use

今こんシーズンを限かぎりに、選せん手しゅとしての活かつ動どうを終おえます。

This season will be my last as a player.

三さん月がつ末まつを限かぎりに、この窓まど口ぐちでの受うけ付つけを終しゅう了りょうします。

This counter will stop taking applications at the end of March.

The day named is the last day.

今日きょう限かぎりで、彼かれとは連れん絡らくを取とらないことにした。

I've decided that after today I won't be in touch with him again.

Two things to know

Something stops

English "as of" can also start something. を限かぎりに can't: what follows is something that ends.

Not said: 四月一日しがつついたちを限かぎりに、新あたらしい制せい度どが始はじまる。

(The new system starts as of 1 April.)

A start is 四月一日しがつついたちから.

声こえを限かぎりに is a different phrase

A storyteller's phrase for "at the top of your voice": to the limit of it.

少しょう年ねんは声こえを限かぎりに助たすけを呼よんだ。

The boy shouted for help at the top of his voice.

Close neighbours

をもってN1

The same cutoff in the language of official announcements, without the resolve or the regret.

当とう館かんは九く月がつ三さん十じゅう日にちをもって閉へい館かんいたします。

This facility will close as of 30 September.

を境にN1

A line between before and after: things are different from then on. Nothing has to end.

それまで横よこばいだった空あき家や数すうは、2019にせんじゅうきゅう年ねんを境さかいに急きゅう増ぞうした。

The number of vacant homes, which had previously been stable, rose sharply from 2019 onward.

限りN2

The same word in its other uses: "as long as", "as far as I know", "as much as possible", and 本ほん日じつ限かぎり, "today only".

雨あめが降ふっている限かぎり、試し合あいは再さい開かいできない。

The match cannot resume as long as it is raining.

Check yourself

1Which one fits?

来らい月げつ（　　）、この店みせは深しん夜や営えい業ぎょうを始はじめる。

Choose an answer to see why.

2What does this notice tell you?

当とう店てんは三さん月がつ三さん十じゅう一いち日にちを限かぎりに閉へい店てんいたします。

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

十じゅう二に月がつを限かぎりに、この店てん舗ぽでの深しん夜や営えい業ぎょうを取とりやめます。

This branch will stop opening late at night after December.

今こん月げつ末まつを限かぎりに、ブログの更こう新しんを停てい止しします。

I will stop updating the blog at the end of this month.

本ほん日じつ限かぎりで、無む料りょう配はい送そうサービスを終しゅう了りょういたします。

Our free delivery service ends today.

今日きょうを限かぎりに、毎まい晩ばんの飲いん酒しゅをやめます。

As of today, I'm giving up my nightly drink.

その日ひを限かぎりに、二人ふたりは二に度どと会あわなかった。

After that day, the two never met again.

In a story, the last time can lie in the past.