“〜nai kagiri (wa)”: Unless 〜 / As Long As You Don't 〜 [JLPT N3]

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

A chain of inference from a negative condition

「許可を取らない限り、立ち入れない」 — 「ない限り」, unless ~

A sign at the entrance reads 「許可を取らない限り、ここには立ち入れない」 (unless you obtain permission, you can't enter here) — 「verb ない-form ＋ 限り(は)」 means “unless the first clause is met, the second clause won't change,” i.e., “as long as you don't ~, it (stays) ….” It draws a line of “unless you cross it, nothing changes,” common in rules and conditions. This guide covers 「ない限り」's attachment, that “sole release condition” feel, and separates it from 「なければ／ないうちは」.

Core: draw a line of “unless crossed, unchanged”

「〜ない限り」 = “the sole release condition” — the following state persists unless the first clause is satisfied:

• Unless … not …: 謝らない限り、許さない (unless you apologize, I won't forgive you).
• As long as not …, keeps …: 値段が下がらない限り、買わない (as long as the price doesn't drop, I won't buy).

Feel: “unless (the first clause) holds, (the second state) doesn't change” — the first clause is the sole condition to release the second, usually followed by a negative/non-committal result.

How to Connect

Examples in use

• 許可を取らない限り、ここには立ち入れない。(Unless you get permission, you can't enter.) — a necessary condition
• 契約書に明記されない限り、口約束に法的効力はない。(Unless spelled out in the contract, a verbal promise has no legal force.) — a rule
• 本人が希望しない限り、情報は公開されない。(Unless the person wishes it, the information isn't disclosed.) — a condition
• 大きなミスをしない限り、彼は昇進するだろう。(As long as he doesn't make a big mistake, he'll likely be promoted.) — as long as not…
• 天候が悪化しない限り、予定通り出発する。(As long as the weather doesn't worsen, we depart as scheduled.) — as long as not…

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① Attach the 「ない-form」, not the dictionary form. ✗ 降る限りない → ✓ 降らない限り (雨が降らない限り = as long as it doesn't rain). 「限り」 takes a verb's ない-form (ない-form ＋ 限り), not the dictionary form. i-adjectives use くない (安くない限り), nouns use でない (会員でない限り).

② Don't confuse it with 「〜とは限らない」. They look a bit alike but are completely different! 「ない限り」 = unless ~ (takes the ない-form, a sole release condition) (謝らない限り許さない = unless you apologize, I won't forgive); 「とは限らない」 = not necessarily ~ (“not always”) (高いからといって、いいとは限らない = expensive doesn't necessarily mean good). One is “unless…,” the other “not necessarily…” — don't mix them.

③ The feel is more formal, ‘stating rules.' ない限り works in speech and writing, but overall it's more formal, with a ‘rule, condition' flavor, common in laws, contracts, school rules, notices (許可がない限り, 契約に明記されない限り). It states a “release condition” precisely (unless …, it absolutely won't change), fitting rules; a casual “if not …, then not …” can also use 「なければ」.

🔄 Compare: ない限り／なければ／ないうちは／とは限らない

💡 The one thing to remember

The core of 「ない限り」 is drawing a line — “unless the first clause holds, the second (state) absolutely won't change” (謝らない限り許さない = unless you apologize, I won't forgive; ミスをしない限り昇進する = as long as you don't slip up, you'll be promoted). It stresses that the first clause is the sole condition to release the second, usually followed by a negative or non-committal result. Three points: ① take the verb ない-form (✗ dictionary form); ② don't confuse it with 「とは限らない (not necessarily)」 (they look alike but mean entirely different things); ③ the feel is more formal, rule-like (common in laws, contracts, school rules). It's also close to 「〜ないことには (unless … you can't …)」, but ない限り stresses more “condition unmet → the state just persists.” To precisely state a rule or condition of “unless …, absolutely won't …,” ない限り is spot-on.

❓ Common questions

Q: How do I tell 「ない限り」 from 「なければ」?

Close in meaning (both a “if not …” condition), differing in feel and emphasis. 「ない限り」 = unless ~, (keeps) … (stressing ‘the sole release condition' — if the first clause isn't met, the second state persists; more formal, rule-like): 証拠が出ない限り、彼は無罪だ (unless evidence emerges, he's innocent — unless this condition is crossed, the state holds), 努力しない限り、成功はない (unless you make an effort, there's no success). It states “unless …, it absolutely won't change” in absolute terms. 「なければ」 = if not … (a general conditional supposition, more neutral, colloquial): 急がなければ、遅れるよ (if you don't hurry, you'll be late — a general supposition), 鍵がなければ、入れない (without a key, you can't get in). It's just a plain “if not ….” So: stressing “the sole release condition, unless … absolutely not” (formal, rule) → ない限り; a general “if not …” (neutral, colloquial) → なければ. Often interchangeable, but ない限り is more absolute and formal, fitting statutes and rules.

Q: Are 「ない限り」 and 「〜とは限らない」 the same? (they look alike)

Completely different! Don't be fooled by the look: 「ない限り」 = unless ~ (takes a verb ない-form, a ‘sole release condition'): 君が謝らない限り、私は許さない (unless you apologize, I won't forgive — apologizing is the sole condition to release “won't forgive”), 雨が降らない限り、試合はある (as long as it doesn't rain, there's a match). It's about “the persistence of a condition and result.” 「とは限らない」 = not necessarily ~ (marking ‘not always,' often with 「からといって」): 高いからといって、質がいいとは限らない (just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's good — not necessarily), 日本人だからといって、敬語が完璧だとは限らない (being Japanese doesn't necessarily mean perfect keigo). It's about “can't generalize, not necessarily.” So: “unless …” (condition) → ない限り (takes ない-form); “not necessarily …” (not always) → とは限らない. It's only that 「限り／限らない」 look alike — the meaning, attachment, and use are entirely different; never mix them.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「許可を取らない___、立ち入れない。」(unless you get permission, you can't enter)

(A) 限り　(B) うちに　(C) ところ　(D) ばかり

Q2. 「ない限り」の前に来る動詞の形は?

(A) ない形　(B) Dictionary form　(C) た形　(D) て形

Q3. 「謝らない限り許さない」の意味は?

(A) Won't forgive unless you apologize

(B) Won't forgive even if you apologize

(C) Will forgive if you don't apologize

(D) Will definitely forgive

Q4. 「ない限り」が表すのは?

(A) Unless ~ (a necessary condition; the main clause is usually negative)

(B) Although not ~, yet

(C) Because not ~, therefore

(D) While not ~, at the same time

Q5. 接法が正しいのは?

(A) 雨が降らない限り、行く。　(B) 雨が降る限りない、行く。

(C) 雨が降らないの限り。　(D) 雨が降って限り。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) 限り ── Unless you get permission you can't enter.

2. (A) ない形 ── Verb ない-form ＋ 限り.

3. (A) ── Won't forgive unless you apologize.

4. (A) ── Unless ~ (a necessary condition).

5. (A) ── ない-form ＋ 限り (降らない＋限り).