modality N1 uncommon politewritten
〜に限ったことではない — not limited to just ~
〜に限ったことではない ・ にかぎったことではない
Meaning
- not limited to (just) ~ / this isn't the only case of ~ — the situation applies more broadly than the one example named
Key sentence
残業が多いのは、うちの会社に限ったことではない。
Heavy overtime isn't something limited to just our company.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | N + に限ったことではない | 今に限ったことではない |
Examples
彼の遅刻は今日に限ったことではない。
His being late isn't a one-off thing today (it happens often).
人手不足は日本に限ったことではない。
Labor shortages aren't limited to Japan.
Easily confused with
に限らず に限らず is a mid-sentence connective opening the category up ('not just A, but also B'); に限ったことではない is a sentence-final verdict ('this isn't limited to ~') stated about one example. に限って に限って singles one case out with attitude ('of all ~', ironic bad luck); に限ったことではない does the opposite — it denies that the case is special, saying it applies widely.
Notes
- Often reassures or generalizes: 'don't take it personally — this happens everywhere.'
See 〜に限ったことではない in real sentences
Jengo shows 〜に限ったことではない the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.