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〜限りだ

kagiri da

By Nihongo PathUpdated

This form is also taught at JLPT N1, where it carries a different sense or register.

Meaning

extremely (emotion); I feel utterly ...

〜限りだ means "I feel utterly…, extremely…" and expresses the speaker's own emotion at its maximum: 嬉しい限りだ (absolutely delighted), 羨ましい限りだ (so envious), 心細い限りだ (terribly anxious).

Somewhat formal and 書き言葉寄り, but also used in polite speeches and thank-you remarks (嬉しい限りです). Only emotion adjectives can precede it, and the subject is the speaker; it is not used to describe other people's feelings or objective degrees.

Formation

V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.

  • Aい + 限りだ / Aな + な + 限りだ

Visual diagram

嬉しい / 残念

emotion adjective

  1. + い + 限りだ嬉しい限りだい-adjective
  2. + な + 限りだ残念な限りだな-adjective
  3. + 限りです嬉しい限りですpolite speech

Natural examples

  1. 皆さんにお会いできて、嬉しい限りです。

    みなさんにおあいできて、うれしいかぎりです。

    I am absolutely delighted to meet you all.

    Polite 限りです in a greeting.

  2. 友達が一人もいなくて、寂しい限りだ。

    ともだちがひとりもいなくて、さびしいかぎりだ。

    With not a single friend, I feel terribly lonely.

    寂しい: a negative emotion at its peak.

  3. そんな失敗をするとは、恥ずかしい限りだ。

    そんなしっぱいをするとは、はずかしいかぎりだ。

    To make such a mistake is utterly embarrassing.

    恥ずかしい限りだ: strong embarrassment.

  4. こんなに立派な賞をいただき、光栄の限りです。

    こんなにりっぱなしょうをいただき、こうえいのかぎりです。

    To receive such a distinguished award is the greatest honor.

    A few nouns take の: 光栄の限り, 贅沢の限り.

  5. 毎日海外旅行なんて、羨ましい限りだ。

    まいにちかいがいりょこうなんて、うらやましいかぎりだ。

    Traveling abroad every day? I'm so envious.

    羨ましい is one of the most common partners.

Similar grammar and the difference

Common mistakes

  • ✗
    この山は高い限りだ。
    ✓
    この山はとても高い。
    Why
    限りだ only works with emotion adjectives, not objective qualities.
  • ✗
    彼は嬉しい限りだ。
    ✓
    彼はとても嬉しそうだ。
    Why
    限りだ expresses the speaker's own feeling; use そうだ for others.
  • ✗
    残念限りだ。
    ✓
    残念な限りだ。
    Why
    な-adjectives need な before 限り.

Typical adjectives: 嬉しい, 羨ましい, 寂しい, 心細い, 恥ずかしい, 悔しい, 残念な, 幸せな. Verbs are not allowed; use 〜てたまらない for verbs. The polite 〜限りです is a fixed part of ceremonial speech.

JLPT N2 tips

On the exam

  • An emotion adjective before the blank, first-person speaker, formal tone → 限りだ.
  • Distractors: 限り, 限りでは, かぎりに. If the sentence is a condition or an information source, it is not 限りだ.
  • Watch for な-adjective options without な; the correct answer includes な.

Frequently asked questions

What does 〜限りだ mean?

extremely (emotion); I feel utterly ... 〜限りだ means "I feel utterly…, extremely…" and expresses the speaker's own emotion at its maximum: 嬉しい限りだ (absolutely delighted), 羨ましい限りだ (so envious), 心細い限りだ (terribly anxious).

How do you form 〜限りだ?

Aい + 限りだ / Aな + な + 限りだ. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.

When is 〜限りだ used?

Somewhat formal and 書き言葉寄り, but also used in polite speeches and thank-you remarks (嬉しい限りです). Only emotion adjectives can precede it, and the subject is the speaker; it is not used to describe other people's feelings or objective degrees.

What is the difference between 〜限りだ and 〜てたまらない?

Also strong emotion, but takes て-forms and covers physical sensations (暑くてたまらない); 限りだ is more formal and limited to emotion adjectives.

What is the difference between 〜限りだ and 〜限り?

Different pattern: "as long as".

What is a common mistake with 〜限りだ?

Wrong: この山は高い限りだ。 Right: この山はとても高い。 限りだ only works with emotion adjectives, not objective qualities.

Quick check

1 / 5Multiple choiceDifficulty 3 of 5

皆さんに温かく迎えていただき、嬉しい（　　）です。