に限るnothing beats; is the best
For a certain moment or a certain job, one thing is best, and you say so flat out. It is a verdict from taste or experience, like English "nothing beats …".
In summer, nothing beats a beer.
When you are tired, the best thing to do is go to bed early.
How to form it
Noun／verb dictionary form／verb ない-form + に限る
The situation usually comes first, with は, なら or ときは. Polite: に限ります.
- Before it
- The winner: a thing (ビール, 鍋), something to do (寝る, 聞く), or something not to do (近づかない).
- Often with
- やっぱり in front and ね, な or よ after: やっぱり夏はビールに限るね.
- Tone
- Confident and casual. It goes with food, seasons, rest and handy tips.
- Where you'll meet it
- Conversation, ads, food and travel writing.
In use
On a cold night, nothing beats hot pot.
In an unfamiliar town, the best thing is to ask a local.
With dangerous places, the best thing is to stay away.
I want to give my mind a break this weekend. What should I do?
In that case, nothing beats putting your phone down and going for a walk.
"Nothing beats" or "limited to"?
限る by itself is "to limit", and in rules and on notices に限ります means exactly that. What comes before it tells you which: the best thing to eat or do, or what a rule allows (who, how many, which days). After a verb it is the verdict.
In winter, nothing beats a hot spring.
A season and a pleasure: a verdict.
Admission is limited to members.
Who may come in: a rule on a notice.
Close neighbours
に限りN2
The "limited to" of notices, in the middle of a sentence: "only for".
Admission is available to members only.
ほど～はないN3
"Nothing is as … as". It says what the winner is best at.
Travel has many pleasures, but nothing is as relaxing as a hot spring.
一番N5
The plain way to say it. に限る adds that nothing else will do.
When you're tired, going to bed early is the best thing.
Check yourself
1What does this mean?
冬は
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which one fits?
眠れない
Choose an answer to see why.
More sentences
For lunch on a hot day, nothing beats cold soba.
On a rainy day off, nothing beats watching a movie at home.
When you can't concentrate, the best thing is to move somewhere else.
With fish in season, nothing beats simply grilling it with salt.
With beer, nothing beats a cold one.
An adjective comes with の: 冷たいの, "a cold one".