How to say "limit" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 限りかぎりnounCovers 'limits' or 'bounds' as an extent, and you will most often meet it in expressions saying that something has no limit or is boundless. It points to the bounds of something rather than a precise cutoff.
- 限定げんていsuru verb, transitive verb, no-adjectiveA limit in the sense of a restriction: something being confined to a particular range, number, or group. This is about narrowing scope, not about reaching the end of one's capacity.
- 限界げんかいno-adjectiveThe limit as a boundary or endpoint: the point beyond which someone or something cannot go. This is the word for reaching the limit of one's strength, patience, or ability.あらゆるものに限界がある。↗There is a limit to everything.
- 限るかぎるgodan verb, transitive verbThe verb: to limit, restrict, or confine something. Choose this when 'limit' is an action — keeping something within a certain range or number — rather than the limit itself.
- 限度げんどnounA limit understood as a degree or amount: how far something can or should go. Close to 限界, but it frames the limit as an extent or measure rather than a hard boundary.
Use 限界 for the limit of ability or capacity, 限度 for a limit of degree or amount, 「限り」 for bounds in expressions about having or lacking limits, 限定 for restricting scope, and 「限る」 for the verb.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 限りかぎりlimit
- 限定げんていlimit
- 限界げんかいlimit
- 限るかぎるto restrict
- 限度げんどlimit
- リミットlimit
- 境界きょうかいboundary
- 果てはてend
- 限度額げんどがくlimit (amount, e.g. on credit card, loan, expenditure)
- 制限せいげんrestriction
- 期ごtime
- 果てしはてしend
- 局限きょくげんlimit
- 極限値きょくげんちlimit
- 方図ほうずend
- 限度枠げんどわくallowable range
- 最大数さいだいすうmaximum number
- 極まりきわまりextremity
- ほどlimit
- 留めるとどめるto contain
- 枠わくlimit
- きりbound
- 極限きょくげんlimit
- 極みきわみend
- 垣根かきねborder
- 縛りしばりregulation
- 歯止めはどめbrake (on inflation, spending, etc.)
- 度どextent
See also
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