What does ～かぎりでは mean? Japanese grammar N2

Forming it

How to use it

Limits a judgment to the scope of information one personally has; cautious, not an absolute assertion.

• 「～かぎりでは」 limits a statement to the SCOPE of what one knows/has observed: "as far as I know/have seen...". It implies things may be different outside that scope.
• Often paired with perception verbs: 知る・見る・聞く・調べる・覚えている.
• The second clause is usually a cautious judgment (「～ようだ／～と思う」), not an absolute guarantee.

Examples

• 私(わたし)が知(し)っているかぎりでは、彼(かれ)はまだ独身(どくしん)だ。

  As far as I know, he is still single.

• 調(しら)べたかぎりでは、問題(もんだい)はなさそうだ。

  As far as I’ve checked, there doesn’t seem to be a problem.

Keep in mind

• Usually in the form 「Vた／Vている + かぎりでは」.
• Emphasizes caution about the scope of one's knowledge.

Common mistakes

• Wrong知(し)るかぎりでは、絶対(ぜったい)に正(ただ)しい。

  As far as I know, that is correct.

  Correct知(し)るかぎりでは、正(ただ)しいと思(おも)う。

  「かぎりでは」 limits things to one's own knowledge, so the second clause must be cautious, not assert 「絶対」 (absolutely).

• Wrong見(み)たかぎりでは、彼(かれ)は来(く)るだろう。

  As far as I've seen, he'll probably come.

  Correct見(み)たかぎりでは、元気(げんき)そうだ。

  「かぎりでは」 states a judgment about something ALREADY observed/known, not used for a far-future prediction.

Exam tips

• 「かぎりでは」 = as far as I know/have seen (cautious); pairs with 知る・見る・調べる.

Related patterns

• ～かぎり
• ～うえでは
• ～によると