資源には限りがある。
Resources are limited.
彼の欲には限りがない。
His greed knows no bounds.
The range or degree to which something applies; often used in the pattern ～の限り (to the extent of ...) or ～の限りではない (not within the scope of ...).
私の知る限りでは、彼は無実だ。
To the best of my knowledge, he is innocent.
この問題は私の担当の限りではない。
This matter is not within my responsibility.
Used as a suffix to indicate the final moment or deadline; common in set expressions like 今日限り (today is the last day) or 今回限り (this time only, never again).
今日限りでこの店は閉店します。
This shop will close for good after today.
今回限りの特別価格です。
This is a special price for this time only.
as long as; as far as; as much as
Follows a verb, adjective, or noun to express the extent or condition; often implies 'while the condition holds' or 'to the fullest extent'. Can be used adverbially.
生きている限り、希望はある。
As long as you are alive, there is hope.
力の限り戦った。
I fought with all my might.
Follows a negative verb to mean 'unless ...'; often used in the pattern ～ない限り.
雨が降らない限り、試合は行われます。
The game will be held unless it rains.
努力しない限り、成功はない。
Unless you make an effort, there is no success.
(not) included in; (not) part of
Used in the negative pattern ～の限りではない to indicate something is outside a certain scope or category.
この件は私の権限の限りではない。
This matter is not within my authority.
Follows an adjective to emphasize a high degree of a state or feeling; often used in set phrases like 嬉しい限り (extremely happy) or 残念な限り (very regrettable).
お会いできて嬉しい限りです。
I am extremely happy to meet you.
ご迷惑をおかけして申し訳ない限りです。
I am terribly sorry for the trouble.
noun, used as a suffix, noun, adverb
Suffix meaning 'only' or 'limited to'; attaches to time or quantity expressions, e.g., 今日限り (today only), 一回限り (one time only).
このチャンスは一度限りだ。
This chance comes only once.
本日限りのセールです。
This sale is for today only.
Archaic usage referring to the end of one's life or funeral rites; not used in modern everyday speech.
古文書には「限り」を死の意味で使う例がある。
In old documents, 限り is sometimes used to mean death.
There is a limit to a person's physical strength.
He fought with all his strength.
As long as I'm alive, I intend to keep making an effort.
Unless it rains, the match will be held.
This rule does not apply to exceptions.
This shop will close for good as of today.
こんなに助けてもらって嬉しい限りだ。
I'm extremely happy to have been helped so much.
限り marks a general limit or extent ('as far as/limited to'), while 止まり specifically marks the point where movement or progress stops, often attached to a place or rank.
限り is the modern, highly productive word for a limit or boundary, while きり in this sense survives mainly in set phrases like きりがない.
無限 means 'infinite, without limit', the direct opposite of 限り when it means a bound or maximum.
限る is the verb 'to limit/be limited to' from which the noun/suffix 限り derives, so learners must distinguish the verb form from the noun/suffix usage.
限り is a noun meaning 'limit' or 'as far as', whereas 有限 is an adjective/noun meaning 'finite'; learners often confuse them because they share the kanji 限.
unlimited; endless; boundless; infinite
next-month delivery; delivery in the following month
with all one's might; to the utmost
all there is; everything available · as long as there is; while there is
ceased patronage; discontinued attendance