“〜ni kagirazu”: Not Limited to 〜 / Not Only 〜 (scope expansion) [JLPT N2]

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

「子供に限らず大人にも人気」 — not just this one; the scope runs wider.

「このアニメは、子供に限らず大人にも人気だ」 — not limited to this group, but wider

Talking about a hit anime, 「このアニメは、子供に限らず、大人にも人気だ」 (this anime is popular not only with children but also with adults) — 「〜に限らず」 = not limited to ～, not only ～, meaning “the scope isn't confined to the first item, but extends wider.” It's often followed by 「〜も.」 It's easily confused with the slightly-different, opposite-meaning 「に限って (of all things/～ alone).」 This guide covers its scope-expanding use and how to tell it from 「だけでなく」「に限って」 (compare 〈のみならず〉〈に限って〉).

Core: not confined to the first item, extending wider

「noun ＋ に限らず」 means “not confined only to ～ (this item/group), but extending to a wider range beyond it”:

• 子供に限らず、大人にも人気だ (popular not only with children but with adults too).
• 日曜に限らず、平日も営業している (open not only on Sundays but on weekdays too).
• 日本に限らず、世界中で愛されている (loved not only in Japan but worldwide).

Feel: “not limited to ～, not only ～” — the core is “the scope isn't confined to the first item, but expands to a wider range (beyond it).” The first is “a scope/target you might have assumed,” the second extends “actually also to wider (even ～).” The main clause often takes 「〜も」 (〜に限らず、〜も…). It's close in meaning to 「だけでなく (not only ～ but).」

Forms & attachment

Examples in use

• この店は、若者に限らず、幅広い世代に支持されている。(This shop is supported not only by youth but by a wide range of generations.)
• 環境問題は、一国に限らず、世界共通の課題だ。(Environmental issues are a challenge not for one nation but shared worldwide.)
• 週末に限らず、平日も予約でいっぱいだ。(Not only weekends but weekdays too are fully booked.)
• 彼は日本語に限らず、英語や中国語も話せる。(He speaks not only Japanese but English and Chinese too.)
• この問題は、新入社員に限らず、ベテランでも間違えやすい。(This problem trips up not only new hires but even veterans.)

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① 「に限らず (not limited to)」 vs 「に限って (of all things/～ alone)」: slightly different, opposite meaning. This is the most crucial, most easily-confused pair (see 〈に限って〉). 「〜に限らず」 = not only ～, not limited to ～ (scope expands, extends wider): 子供に限らず、大人にも (not only children, but adults too — scope expands from “children” to “adults”). 「〜に限って」 = of all things ～／～ alone (pinpointing that specific one): 今日に限って、傘がない (of all days, no umbrella today — pinpointing “today”), うちの子に限って、嘘をつかない (my child alone wouldn't lie — pinpointing “my child”). Difference: 「に限らず」 is “not limited to (scope expanding outward)”; 「に限って」 is “of all things/～ alone (pinpointing a specific one)” — one expands the scope, one narrows to a pinpoint, opposite directions! Test: to say “not only ～ (there's more, wider scope)” → に限らず; to say “of all things ～／～ alone (that specific one)” → に限って (see 〈に限って〉). Don't confuse 「限らず」 and 「限って.」

② The main clause often takes 「〜も」; don't drop the echo. The main clause of 「〜に限らず」 very often takes 「〜も」 (also, even) to echo “not only ～”: 子供に限らず、大人にも人気 (popular not only with children but with adults too), 日本に限らず、海外でも (not only Japan but overseas too), 週末に限らず、平日も (not only weekends but weekdays too). This 「も／にも／でも」 completes the “not confined to the first, extending wider” meaning. So 「〜に限らず」 often appears in a set with 「〜も」: (scope A) に限らず、(wider B) も. When writing, remember to pair with 「も」 to echo “not only A, but B too.”

③ 「に限らず」 ≈ 「だけでなく」, a kind of “not only ～ but.” 「〜に限らず」 and 「〜だけでなく (not only ～ but)」 are close, both “not confined to the first, extending to others,” mostly interchangeable: 子供に限らず大人も／子供だけでなく大人も (not only children, but adults too). Subtle difference: 「に限らず」 carries the sense of “not confined to (that scope)” (the first is often “an assumed scope/limit”), 「だけでなく」 more generally expresses “not only A (there's also B).” There's also the more written 「〜のみならず (not only ～ but, most formal, see 〈のみならず〉).」 The register ladder of this “not only ～ but” family is roughly: colloquial だけじゃなく ＜ general だけでなく／に限らず ＜ written のみならず. To say “not limited to ～,” either 「に限らず」 or 「だけでなく」 works, に限らず slightly stressing “not confined to some scope.”

🔄 Compare: に限らず／だけでなく／のみならず／に限って

💡 The one thing to remember

「〜に限らず」 = not limited to ～, not only ～ (scope not confined to the first, extending wider) — three points: ① separate it from 「に限って」 — the key trap: 限らず = not limited to (scope expands outward, 子供に限らず大人も), 限って = of all things/～ alone (pinpointing, 今日に限って傘がない), one expands one narrows, opposite directions (see 〈に限って〉); ② the main clause often takes 「〜も」 — 〜に限らず、〜も (not only ～, but ～ too); ③ ≈ 「だけでなく」 — both “not only ～ but,” the more written one being 〈のみならず〉. This pattern is very common for “not only A (an assumed scope), but even wider B…” — 子供に限らず大人にも, 日本に限らず世界中で. To say “not limited to ～” with scope expansion, 「に限らず」 is natural; but always separate it from 「に限って (of all things/～ alone)」 — a slight difference flips the meaning.

❓ Common questions

Q: 「に限らず」 and 「に限って」 differ slightly — how do I tell them apart? I keep confusing them.

Opposite in meaning, must be separated (the classic trap of the 「限」 family). 「〜に限らず」 = not limited to ～, not only ～ (scope ‘expands,' extends to a wider range beyond the first): means “not confined to ～ (this item), but extending to others, wider,” often with 「も」: 子供に限らず、大人にも人気 (popular not only with children but with adults too — scope expands from “children” outward to “adults”), 日本に限らず、世界中で (not only Japan but worldwide — expands to the whole world), 平日に限らず、週末も営業 (open not only weekdays but weekends too). It's “scope expanding outward (not limited to this, there's more).” 「〜に限って」 = of all things ～／～ alone (‘pinpointing' that specific one): means “of all times, precisely that time/matter” (unlucky, ironic) or “that target alone” (trust), narrowing, pinpointing to a specific one: 今日に限って、傘を忘れた (of all days, forgot my umbrella today — pinpointing “today”), うちの子に限って、そんなことはしない (my child alone wouldn't do that — pinpointing “my child,” see 〈に限って〉). It's “pinpointing a specific one (of all things/～ alone).” Difference: 「限らず」 is ‘not limited to／scope expands' (outward); 「限って」 is ‘of all things／～ alone／pinpointing' (inward), one expands, one narrows, completely opposite. Trick: 「限ら『ず』」 has the negative 「ず」 = not limited to (scope expands); 「限『って』」 = of all things/～ alone (pinpointing). Or look at the main clause: followed by 「〜も (too)」 marking expansion → 限らず; followed by an “unlucky thing” or “would never ～” marking pinpointing → 限って. E.g. 「若者に限らず、高齢者も (not only youth, but the elderly too — expansion)」 uses 限らず; 「若者に限って、マナーが悪い (of all people, it's the youth who have bad manners — pinpointing/ironic)」 uses 限って. A slight difference, worlds apart — don't confuse them.

Q: How do 「に限らず」, 「だけでなく」, 「のみならず」 differ?

The three are close in meaning (all “not only ～, but more”), differing in register and subtle feel. 「〜に限らず」 = not limited to ～, not only ～ (with a ‘not confined to some scope' flavor): the first is often “an assumed limited scope/target,” stressing “not confined to that scope, extending wider,” usable in speech or writing: 週末に限らず、平日も混む (crowded not only on weekends but weekdays too — not confined to “weekends”), 会員に限らず、誰でも利用できる (usable not only by members but by anyone — not confined to “members”). It carries “not restricting, not confined to ～.” 「〜だけでなく」 = not only ～ but (most general): the most common, neutral “not only A (there's also B),” common in speech and writing: 英語だけでなく、フランス語も話せる (speaks not only English but French too). It's the general “not only ～ but.” 「〜のみならず」 = not only ～ but (most written/formal): the most written, most formal of the “not only ～ but” family, for papers, formal narration (see 〈のみならず〉): 個人のみならず、社会全体の問題だ (a problem not of the individual but of society as a whole). Register ladder: colloquial 「だけじゃなくて」 ＜ general 「だけでなく／に限らず」 ＜ written 「のみならず」. The three are mostly interchangeable, only: 「に限らず」 slightly carries “not confined to some scope” (the first is often a limited scope), 「だけでなく」 is most general, 「のみならず」 most written. To say “not limited to ～ (not confined to that scope)” use に限らず; for general “not only ～ but” use だけでなく; for formal writing use のみならず.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「大人___、子供にもわかりやすい説明をしてください。」(Not just adults — please give an explanation children can understand too)

(A) に限らず　(B) に限って　(C) にしては　(D) わりに

Q2. 「この問題は日本___、世界中で見られる現象だ。」(Not just Japan — this is a phenomenon seen all over the world)

(A) に限らず　(B) に限り　(C) を限りに　(D) に限って

Q3. 「に限らず」と「だけでなく」の最大の違いは？

(A) 意味が全く違う。

(B) に限らず は書面・正式語；だけでなく は口語・日常語。

(C) だけでなく は否定文のみ。

(D) に限らず は時間のみに使う。

Q4. 「夏___、冬も北海道は魅力的な観光地だ。」(Not just summer — Hokkaido is an attractive destination in winter too)

(A) に限って　(B) を限りに　(C) に限らず　(D) に限り

Q5. 「社員___、パートタイマーもこの研修に参加できます。」(Not just employees — part-timers can join this training too)

(A) に限って　(B) に限らず　(C) を限りに　(D) に限り

Answer Explanations

1. (A) に限らず ──「大人に限らず、子供にもわかりやすい」(not just adults — easy for children to understand too) = not limited to 〜, a broader scope. (B) に限って (of all / only), (C) にしては (considering 〜, yet), (D) わりに (out of proportion to 〜) mean different things.

2. (A) に限らず ── 「日本に限らず」(not limited to Japan), 「世界中で」(all over the world) = expanding the scope → に限らず.

3. (B) ── に限らず = written / formal, emphasizing "breaking a limit, expanding the scope"; だけでなく = colloquial / everyday, same meaning but with a lighter feel.

4. (C) に限らず ── 「夏に限らず」(not just summer), 「冬も魅力的」(winter is attractive too) = expanding the scope → に限らず.

5. (B) に限らず ── 「社員に限らず」(not just employees), 「パートタイマーも」(part-timers too), 「参加できます」= expanding the limitation → に限らず.