〜に限らず
ni kagirazu
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
not only ..., but also (more broadly)
〜に限らず means "not only X but (more broadly)…". It takes a typical, narrow case and widens the scope to a larger group: not only in Japan but around the world; not only on weekends but on weekdays too.
Both registers; a little more formal than 〜だけでなく. The noun before it is the expected, typical case; the second clause names the wider set and usually contains も or 〜全体 / 〜中. Common in reports and general statements.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
N + に限らず
Visual diagram
日本
The narrow, expected case.
日本に限らず
Not limited to Japan…
世界中で
…but the whole world (wider set, usually with も/中).
日本
The narrow, expected case.
日本に限らず
Not limited to Japan…
世界中で
…but the whole world (wider set, usually with も/中).
Natural examples
この問題は日本に限らず、世界中で起きている。
このもんだいはにほんにかぎらず、せかいじゅうでおきている。
This problem is occurring not just in Japan but around the world.
Narrow case (日本) widened to 世界中.
週末に限らず、平日も込んでいる。
しゅうまつにかぎらず、へいじつもこんでいる。
It is crowded not only on weekends but on weekdays too.
Time: 週末 widened to 平日も.
子供に限らず、大人も楽しめる映画だ。
こどもにかぎらず、おとなもたのしめるえいがだ。
It's a film that adults, not only children, can enjoy.
Group: 子供 widened to 大人も.
この本は専門家に限らず、一般の読者にも読まれている。
このほんはせんもんかにかぎらず、いっぱんのどくしゃにもよまれている。
This book is read not only by specialists but by general readers too.
にも marks the wider group.
年齢に限らず、誰でも参加できます。
ねんれいにかぎらず、だれでもさんかできます。
Anyone can take part, regardless of age.
With an abstract noun it means "regardless of".
Similar grammar and the difference
Everyday equivalent; can also follow verbs and adjectives, while に限らず takes nouns. Compare side by side
Formal written equivalent (N1-ish). Compare side by side
Opposite: narrows to "of all…" with emotion. Compare side by side
"Regardless of" (年齢を問わず); overlaps with the abstract-noun use of に限らず. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 安いに限らず、おいしい。
- ✓
- 安いだけでなく、おいしい。
- Why
- に限らず attaches to nouns, not adjectives.
- ✗
- 日本に限らず、東京でも人気がある。
- ✓
- 東京に限らず、日本中で人気がある。
- Why
- The second scope must be wider than the first; Tokyo is inside Japan.
- ✗
- 子供に限って、大人も楽しめる。
- ✓
- 子供に限らず、大人も楽しめる。
- Why
- に限って narrows; に限らず widens. The も in the second clause signals widening.
Frequent pairs: 〜に限らず〜も, 〜に限らず〜全体, 〜に限らず誰でも. Abstract nouns (年齢・性別・国籍) give the sense "regardless of". Written variant without ず: 〜に限らない as a predicate (それは日本に限らない).
JLPT N2 tips
On the exam
- A noun before the blank and も / 誰でも / 〜中 after it → に限らず.
- The most confusing distractor is に限って; decide by whether the sentence widens (に限らず) or picks out (に限って).
- If the blank follows an adjective or verb, に限らず is impossible; choose だけでなく.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜に限らず mean?
not only ..., but also (more broadly). 〜に限らず means "not only X but (more broadly)…". It takes a typical, narrow case and widens the scope to a larger group: not only in Japan but around the world; not only on weekends but on weekdays too.
How do you form 〜に限らず?
N + に限らず. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜に限らず used?
Both registers; a little more formal than 〜だけでなく. The noun before it is the expected, typical case; the second clause names the wider set and usually contains も or 〜全体 / 〜中. Common in reports and general statements.
What is the difference between 〜に限らず and 〜だけでなく?
Everyday equivalent; can also follow verbs and adjectives, while に限らず takes nouns.
What is the difference between 〜に限らず and 〜のみならず?
Formal written equivalent (N1-ish).
What is a common mistake with 〜に限らず?
Wrong: 安いに限らず、おいしい。 Right: 安いだけでなく、おいしい。 に限らず attaches to nouns, not adjectives.
Quick check
この問題は都市部（ ）、農村でも深刻になっている。