N2 Limits, Extent, and Range

~に限かぎって: meaning, usage and examples

~に限かぎって means: just when... (bad luck) / X of all people (would never).

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

Examples

1. 急いそいでいる時ときに限かぎって、バスが来こない。

   The bus never comes when I'm in a hurry.

2. 傘かさを持もっていない日ひに限かぎって、雨あめが降ふる。

   It always rains on the very day I have no umbrella.

3. 大事だいじな会議かいぎの日ひに限かぎって、電車でんしゃが遅おくれる。

   The train is always late on the day of an important meeting.

4. 休やすみの日ひに限かぎって、朝あさ早はやく目めが覚さめてしまう。

   On my days off, of all days, I end up waking up early.

When to use it

Two uses. First, "just when": something bad happens at the worst possible moment, as in 大事だいじな日ひに限かぎって寝坊ねぼうする (I always oversleep on the important days). Second, "X of all people would never": strong trust in someone, as in うちの子こに限かぎってそんなことはしない (My child, of all people, would never do that). Both single out one case as special.

Nuance

Conversational and emotional. The first use complains about bad luck; the second defends someone and is followed by a negative such as そんなことはない or するはずがない. It is not used for neutral, official limits.

Compare

に限かぎり is neutral and official: 会員かいいんに限かぎり入場にゅうじょうできます. に限かぎって carries frustration or trust: 雨あめの日ひに限かぎってタクシーがつかまらない. に限かぎらず means "not only": 子こどもに限かぎらず大人おとなも楽たのしめる. If there is no feeling behind it, に限かぎって is the wrong choice.

Tip: Think of it as the Murphy's law pattern: 時ときに限かぎって / 日ひに限かぎって + something annoying happens.