“〜kagiri”: Scope / Condition / Source of Information [JLPT N2]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「生きている限り」「努力しない限り」「知る限りでは」 — scope, condition, or “as far as I know.”

「私の知る限り、彼は嘘をつかない」 — the three faces of 「限り」

「私の知る限り、彼は正直な人だ」 (as far as I know, he's an honest person) — the same 「限り」 also forms 「できる限り (as much as possible)」「生きている限り (as long as one lives)」. 「限り」 is a high-frequency, polysemous N2 pattern with three main faces: ① scope/limit, ② source of information (as far as I …), ③ as long as ～ (condition). This guide serves as a 「限り」 overview, covering the first two (scope・source); the conditional use 「〜かぎりは／ないかぎり」 has its own guide (N2).

Core: 限り's three uses

「限り」 = “boundary, scope,” yielding three tested uses:

• ① scope/limit (within the range of ～, to the fullest ～): できる限り努力する (make an effort as much as possible); 力の限り戦う (fight with all one's might).
• ② source of information (within the range of what I …): 私の知る限り／見た限り（では）、問題はない (as far as I know/saw, there's no problem).
• ③ as long as ～ (condition): 生きている限り、希望はある (as long as one lives, there's hope) — this use: see 〈かぎりは〉.

Feel: “(within the) scope/limit of ～／as far as I …／as long as ～” — the core is “boundary, scope”: ① marking “the limit of doing to the fullest,” ② marking “the range of what I (know/saw),” ③ marking “the range of as long as (this condition holds).” This guide focuses on ①②.

Attachment & forms (scope・source)

See it in context

• できる限りのことはやったので、後は結果を待つだけだ。(I did all I could, so now I just wait for the result.) — limit
• 私が調べた限りでは、その情報は正しい。(As far as I checked, that information is correct.) — source
• 力の限り、応援します。(I'll support you with all my might.) — with all one's
• 見た限り、問題はなさそうだ。(As far as I can see, there seems to be no problem.) — source
• 記憶にある限り、彼とは会っていない。(As far as I can recall, I haven't met him.) — source

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① 「（知る/見た）限り」 = ‘the range of what I …,' used to limit one's basis. 「私の知る限り・見た限り・調べた限り（では）」 limits the basis, scope of one's statement — “(I can't guarantee everything, but) within the range of what I (know/saw/checked), it's ….” 私の知る限り、彼は来ない (as far as I know, he won't come — but I may not know everything). It carries the caution, reservation of “only within the information I hold.” Often with 「では」 (見た限りでは). To modestly say “as far as I know/saw …” use this.

② 「できる限り」 = as much as possible (limit); don't over-fix it against 「できるだけ」. 「できる限り」 and 「できるだけ」 both mean “as much as possible,” very close, mostly interchangeable (できる限り／できるだけ 急ぐ = hurry as much as possible). Finer: 「できる限り」 leans “to the ‘limit' of one's ability” (a bit stronger, more written); 「できるだけ」 is more colloquial, general. To stress “with all one's might,” 「力の限り・命の限り」 (with all one's strength/with one's life) is strongest.

③ 「限り」's ‘condition' use (as long as ～) has its own guide. 「限り」 also has a conditional use “〜（ている）限り = as long as ～, 〜ない限り = unless ～” (生きている限り = as long as one lives; 謝らない限り = unless you apologize), different from this guide's “scope/source.” Test: 「（できる/知る/見た）限り」 = scope/basis; 「（ている/ない）限り」 = condition (as long as/unless). The conditional use: see 〈かぎりは〉.

🔄 Compare with similar forms: 限り (scope/basis)／できるだけ／かぎり（は）(condition)／上で

💡 The one thing to remember

「限り」 = “boundary, scope,” a polysemy heavyweight of N2, with three main faces: ① scope/limit (できる限り = as much as possible; 力の限り = with all one's might); ② source of information (私の知る限り・見た限り（では） = as far as I know/saw — limiting the basis of one's statement, with modest reservation); ③ as long as ～ (condition) (生きている限り, ない限り — see 〈かぎりは〉). Three points: ① 「知る/見た限り」 is used to ‘limit the basis' (as far as I …, not necessarily knowing all); ② 「できる限り」 ≈ 「できるだけ」 (as much as possible, the former a bit more written); ③ the conditional use 「〜限りは／ないかぎり」 has its own guide. This guide focuses on “scope・source”; to modestly say “as far as I know” or “as much as possible,” 限り is handy. (The conditional “as long as/unless”: see 〈かぎりは〉.)

❓ Common questions

Q: What does 「私の知る限り」 mean? Why add 「限り」?

「（私の）知る限り」 = “as far as I know (within the range),” used to limit the basis, scope of one's statement, with a modest, reserved tone. 「限り」 literally is “boundary, scope,” so 「知る限り」 is “(marking off) the range of what I know” — meaning “(I can't guarantee everything, but) within the range of what I know, it's ….” Examples: 私の知る限り、この店が一番安い (as far as I know, this shop is cheapest — but there may be a cheaper one I don't know of); 調べた限りでは、そのような記録はない (as far as I checked, there's no such record); 見た限り、怪我はなさそうだ (as far as I can see, there seems to be no injury). The purpose of adding 「限り」 is to confine one's statement to the range of “the information I hold,” implying “beyond this range I'm not sure” — a cautious, responsible, non-committal expression. So it's often used in “(I daren't say for certain, but) as far as I know/saw/checked …” contexts, often with 「では」 (知る限りでは, 見た限りでは). Similar: 「記憶にある限り (as far as I recall)」「聞いた限り (as far as I heard)」. To modestly, cautiously state “as far as I …,” 「〜限り（では）」 is the most idiomatic. (Note: 「限り」's ‘as long as ～' conditional use is different; see 〈かぎりは〉.)

Q: Are 「できる限り」 and 「できるだけ」 the same?

Very close (both “as much as possible”), interchangeable in most cases, differing only in subtle feel. 「できるだけ」 = as much as possible (colloquial～general, commonest): できるだけ早く来てください (please come as early as possible); できるだけの努力はした (I made every effort). It's the everyday go-to “as much as possible,” for any setting. 「できる限り」 = as much as possible, to the limit of one's ability (same meaning, but 「限り」 carries a ‘limit, scope' sense, a bit stronger, more written): できる限りのサポートをします (I'll provide the utmost support); できる限り努力する (make the utmost effort). It stresses “giving it all ‘within the limit of what's doable,'” a touch more formal and stronger than 「できるだけ」. The two are interchangeable in the vast majority of cases (できるだけ／できる限り 早く = as soon as possible). To stress “with all one's might, giving it your all,” use 「力の限り (with all one's strength)」「命の限り (with one's life)」「〜の限りを尽くす (exhaust one's …)」, the strongest. Test: everyday “as much as possible” → できるだけ (most general); a bit more formal/emphatic “to the utmost limit” → できる限り; to stress “with all one's might” → 力の限り. All three stem from “to the limit of doing …,” differing in strength and register.

🖊️ Practice Quiz

Q1. 「私が生きている___、あなたを支えます。」(scope/continuation) Which is correct?

(A) 限りでは　(B) 限り　(C) 限りは　(D) 以上は

Q2. 「約束した___、必ず守ります。」(responsibility/obligation condition) Which is correct?

(A) 限り　(B) 限りでは　(C) 限りは　(D) からに

Q3. 「私が___限りでは、問題はありません。」(info source: as far as I know) Which is correct?

(A) 知る　(B) 知った　(C) 知っている　(D) 知れる

Q4. 「努力し___限り、成功はない。」(negative condition) Which is correct?

(A) ない　(B) た　(C) る　(D) て

Q5. What's the difference between 「〜する限りは」 and 「〜以上は」?

(A) exactly the same, interchangeable

(B) 限りは emphasizes an ongoing stance/scope; 以上は emphasizes a responsibility that has arisen as a result

(C) 以上は emphasizes an ongoing stance

(D) 限りは is for the past

Answer Key

1. (B) 限り ── 生きている限り = as long as I live (scope/continuation).

2. (C) 限りは? Actually 約束した以上は is most natural; among these 約束した限りは also works for an obligation condition. The intended answer: 限りは (約束した限りは、守ります).

3. (C) 知っている ── 私が知っている限りでは = as far as I know (info source).

4. (A) ない ── 努力しない限り = unless you make an effort (negative condition).

5. (B) ── 限りは emphasizes an ongoing stance/scope; 以上は emphasizes a responsibility that has arisen as a result.