N2 Limits, Extent, and Range

~限かぎり(は): meaning, usage and examples

~限かぎり(は) means: as long as... / unless...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 生いきている限かぎり、希望きぼうを持もち続つづける。

   As long as I'm alive, I'll keep holding on to hope.

2. 彼かれが反対はんたいする限かぎりは、計画けいかくは進すすまない。

   As long as he opposes it, the plan won't proceed.

3. 本人ほんにんが反省はんせいしない限かぎり、同おなじ失敗しっぱいは繰くり返かえされるだろう。

   Unless they reflect on it themselves, the same mistake will probably happen again.

4. お客きゃくさんが来きてくれる限かぎりは、この店みせを続つづけるつもりです。

   I plan to keep this shop going as long as customers keep coming.

When to use it

Means "as long as" a condition continues, the result holds. 健康けんこうである限かぎり、働はたらき続つづけたい means "As long as I am healthy, I want to keep working." With a negative verb it means "unless": 練習れんしゅうしない限かぎり、上手じょうずにならない (You will not improve unless you practice). Used to set the scope of a promise, rule or firm judgment.

Nuance

Neutral to formal; は adds emphasis. The condition is a state that lasts, and the result is often a resolution, a promise or a firm prediction. ない限かぎり is very common in rules, warnings and arguments.

Compare

うちに means "while the chance lasts, before it changes": 若わかいうちに旅行りょこうしたい. 限かぎり means the result stays true as long as the state does: 私わたしがここにいる限かぎり、心配しんぱいはいらない. 限かぎりでは is different again: "as far as I know": 私わたしの知しる限かぎりでは.

Tip: Memorize ない限かぎり as "unless": 謝あやまらない限かぎり許ゆるさない means "I won't forgive you unless you apologize." Do not confuse it with ないうちに.