Japanese grammar
What does ～をかぎりに mean? Japanese grammar N1
～をかぎりに means as of…; with… as the final cutoff.
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N1 |
|---|---|
| Structure | N (point in time) + を限りに |
| Romaji | wokagirini |
| Meaning | as of…; with… as the final cutoff |
Forming it
| Noun (day) | 今日 + を限りに |
|---|---|
| Noun (season/period) | 今シーズン + を限りに |
How to use it
States that a point in time/moment is the LAST one, after which something ends. Formal.
- 「～を限りに」 = "taking A (a point in time) as the FINAL marker, ending from there". Nothing continues after A.
- Often paired with 引退 (retirement), 閉店 (closing a shop), 禁煙 (quitting smoking)...: ending something as of that point.
- Has another meaning of "to the utmost" (声を限りに叫ぶ = shout at the top of one's voice).
Examples
今日を限りに、たばこをやめる。
As of today, I’m quitting smoking for good.
今シーズンを限りに、彼は引退する。
He will retire as of the end of this season.
Keep in mind
- Attaches to a noun indicating a point in time.
- Main meaning: a cutoff point.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong東京を限りに、ツアーが始まる。
Starting from the Tokyo performance, the tour kicks off.
Correct東京公演を皮切りに、ツアーが始まる。
For the START of a series, use 「を皮切りに」; 「を限りに」 = the ENDING marker.
-
Wrong昨日を限りに、やめた。
Taking today as the final marker, I will stop.
Correct今日を限りに、やめる。
「を限りに」 usually takes a present/future point as the ending marker, pointing toward stopping from there onward.
Exam tips
- 「を限りに」 = taking this point as the last time (ending from there); different from 「を皮切りに」 (a start).