に限り・
に限り is "only for": the language of offers and rules. に限って can say that too, and it has two uses with feeling in them: "of all times" for bad timing, and "of all people" for someone you trust.
only for
Only the first fifty people will receive a commemorative gift.
of all times
It's always on the days I'm in a hurry that every light turns red.
of all people
Mr. Sato takes his responsibilities so seriously. He, of all people, would never falsify the data.
How to form it
Noun + に限り／に限って
The noun often has a clause in front: 急いでいるときに限って. Rules say 場合に限り, "only when". On signs it is often just 本日限り, "today only".
Which one is it?
| What you see | It means | Like this |
|---|---|---|
| Who or what an offer or a rule covers, then に限り or に限って | Only for | 本日に |
| A time or a kind of person, then に限って and, mostly, something unwelcome | Of all times; always the ones who | 急いでいる |
| Someone you trust, then に限って and a denial | … of all people would never | うちの |
For the second and third, people say に限って.
Only for
に限り is printed on posters and read out over shop and station speakers.
Only those who show a student ID can get in at the special rate.
This lounge is for members only.
It isn't an all-purpose "only". That word is だけ, and だけ is what people say out loud.
Everything is half price, today only.
The shop's poster.
Apparently everything's half price, just for today.
You, telling a friend.
For a one-off favor people do say に限って: "just this once".
Just this once, I'll extend the deadline by a day.
Of all times
A grumble: trouble picks the one time you least wanted it. "Today of all days", "it's always when …".
Today of all days, I left my wallet at home.
I have an early start tomorrow, and tonight of all nights my child just won't go to sleep.
About a kind of person it is "it's always the ones who …".
It's always the people who say "I'm fine" who aren't.
… of all people would never
You name someone you trust and refuse to believe it of them. The sentence ends in a denial, often はずがない or わけがない. Parents are famous for it: うちの子に限って.
My child, of all children, would never do a thing like that.
She knows how to keep her mouth shut. She, of all people, would never let a secret slip.
Close neighbours
限りN2
With no に: "as long as", "as far as I know", "as much as possible".
As long as I live in this town, I'll need a car.
に限るN3
"Nothing beats": a verdict on what is best. On a notice, に限ります means "limited to".
In summer, nothing beats a beer.
のみN2
The written だけ. It limits any word; に限り names who or what a rule covers.
Only those who registered in advance may enter.
Check yourself
1Which one fits?
傘を
Choose an answer to see why.
2What does this mean?
彼に
Choose an answer to see why.
More sentences
only for
All products are ten percent off, for customers visiting the store today only.
only for
The registration fee is waived only for those who apply by the end of this month.
only for
Only if it rains will the match be moved to the gym.
only for
For this year only, the tournament's qualifying rounds will be held online.
of all times
The train is always late on the day of an important meeting.