限る|かぎるkagiru[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N3approx.Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto restrict; to limit; to confine
    金持かねもちが必かならずしも幸福こうふくとは限かぎらない。↗
    The rich are not always happy.
  2. godan verb, intransitive verbto be restricted to; to be limited to; to be confined to
  3. godan verb, intransitive verbto be best (for); to be the best plan; to be the only way (to)as ...は...に限る
    暑あつい日ひは冷つめたいビールに限かぎる。↗
    There is nothing like cold beer on a hot day.
Conjugation
Dictionary form限る(かぎる)
Polite (masu)限ります(かぎります)
Negative (nai)限らない(かぎらない)
polite (masen)限りません(かぎりません)
classical zu / nu限らず・限らぬ(かぎらず・かぎらぬ)
Past (ta)限った(かぎった)
polite (mashita)限りました(かぎりました)
Past negative (nakatta)限らなかった(かぎらなかった)
polite (masen deshita)限りませんでした(かぎりませんでした)
Te form限って(かぎって)
Potential限れる(かぎれる)
Passive限られる(かぎられる)
Causative限らせる(かぎらせる)
Causative passive限らせられる・限らされる(かぎらせられる・かぎらされる)
Conditional (ba)限れば(かぎれば)
tara限ったら(かぎったら)
Volitional限ろう(かぎろう)
polite (mashou)限りましょう(かぎりましょう)
Imperative限れ(かぎれ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym限定げんていWrittenWritten/formal. Fixes quantity or scope, as in 「数量限定」「期間限定」; often used as a modifier, and leans formal.
  • Synonym制限せいげんWrittenWritten/formal. Sets a bound that must not be crossed, as in 「速度制限」「年齢制限」; the emphasis is on restraint.
  • Synonym制約せいやくWrittenWritten/formal. A constraint imposed by conditions, as in 「時間的制約」; typically something one is subject to rather than sets.
  • Related押さえるおさえるNeutralNeutral. To press or hold down, and by extension to control or grasp the key points; it does not match 「限る」's sense of setting bounds — only loosely related.
  • Related抑えるおさえるWrittenWritten/formal. Keeps something down within a certain level, as in 「出費を抑える」; the nuance is keeping it low rather than setting bounds.
  • Related削減さくげんWrittenWritten/formal. Cuts numbers or budgets, as in 「経費削減」; the focus is on reducing, while 「限る」 focuses on setting a range.
  • Related抑制よくせいWrittenWritten/formal. Suppresses or curbs something, as in 「インフレを抑制する」.
  • Related削るけずるCasualColloquial. Literally to shave or plane, by extension to cut a budget or delete, as in 「予算を削る」.
  • Related縮減しゅくげんWrittenWritten/formal. Shrinks scale or quantity, as in 「事業の縮減」; a stiff written word.
  • RelatedセーブCasualColloquial loanword. To save or go easy on something, as in 「体力をセーブする」.
  • Related節するせっするWrittenWritten/formal and rare today. To be moderate or economize; 「節約する」 is the usual word.
  • Antonym広げるひろげるNeutralNeutral antonym. Spreads or expands a range — the opposite of 「限る」's drawing of bounds.
  • Antonym無制限むせいげんWrittenWritten/formal antonym. Unlimited — the opposite of the bounds 「限る」 sets, as in 「無制限に使える」.
  • Antonym拡大するWrittenWritten/formal antonym. Enlarges scale or scope, the opposite of 「限る」's limiting of range.

Use 「限る」 to set a range or say something is limited to; 「~に限る」 also means something is the best choice. For setting bounds pick 「制限」, for fixing quantity or scope 「限定」, for keeping something down 「抑える」, and for cutting amounts 「削減」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 空間くうかんなどについて区分くわけする。しきる。
  2. 時間じかん・数量すうりょう・場合ばあいなどについて範囲はんいを定さだめる。
  3. (打ち消うちけしを伴ともなって)限定げんていされない。他ほかの事物じぶつなどにも当あてはまる。
  4. 特定とくていのものだけを取り立とりたてる。条件じょうけんや言及げんきゅう対象たいしょうを限定げんていする。
  5. (受け身うけみの形かたちで)一定量いっていりょうを超こえない。数かずが少すくない。
  6. (「〜にかぎる」の形かたちで)〜が最上さいじょうである。〜がもっとも優すぐれている。
  7. (打ち消うちけしを伴ともなって)断定だんていできない。他ほかの可能性かのうせいもある。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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