conditional N2 common casualpolitewritten
〜限り(は) — as long as ~
〜限り(は)
Meaning
① as long as (condition): as long as ~ / while ~ holds — the statement is true for the duration of this condition
② as far as (extent): as far as ~ / to the extent ~ — bounds a claim by the limits of one's knowledge or perception
Key sentence
① as long as (condition)
体が元気な限り、働き続けたい。
As long as I'm healthy, I want to keep working.
② as far as (extent)
私の知る限り、彼は正直な人だ。
As far as I know, he's an honest person.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary/ている verb, i-adj, na-adj な, noun である | V(dict/ている) / A / N である + 限り(は) | 生きている限り / 私の知る限り |
Examples
① as long as (condition)
規則を守っている限り、罰せられることはない。
As long as you follow the rules, you won't be punished.
② as far as (extent)
見渡す限り、青い海が広がっていた。
As far as the eye could see, the blue ocean stretched out.
When you can't use it
- 〜ない限り flips it to 'unless': 努力しない限り、成功はない 'Unless you make an effort, there's no success.'
Easily confused with
See 〜限り(は) in real sentences
Jengo shows 〜限り(は) the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar. Editorial confidence: medium.