← Grammar bank

Formation: N / V-dictionary / V-ない + に限る; restriction: N + に限る / に限ります / に限り

In its main use, 〜に限る gives the speaker's personal view that X is the best thing to do or have in some situation: 'when it's hot, nothing beats a cold beer'. It is a confident, conversational way of stating a personal rule of thumb, and the situation is usually set up first with a phrase like 〜ときは or 〜なら. In notices and rules it keeps its literal meaning, 'is limited to', as in 参加は会員に限る, usually written as 〜に限ります or 〜に限り. Compare 〜に越したことはない, which says X is preferable but not essential and sounds more objective. 〜ことだ gives advice to someone else, while 〜に限る states what the speaker thinks is best. Do not confuse it with 〜に限らず (not only) or 〜に限って (of all times, unexpectedly).

Variants: に限ります、に限り

Examples

• 暑い日は、冷たいビールに限る。
  On a hot day, nothing beats a cold beer.
• 疲れたときは、何も考えずに早く寝るに限る。
  When you're tired, the best thing is to stop thinking and go to bed early.
• 応募資格は、二十歳以上の学生に限る。
  Applications are limited to students aged twenty or over.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

No post has used this pattern yet. Examples from real texts will appear here.