As of today, no more: 〜を限りに
Time noun (今日・今回・今年…) + を限りに
Time noun + を限りに: “from this moment on, it's over for good”. A tone of resolution or emotional announcement; をもって is more administrative. Fixed: 声を限りに, “at the top of one's voice”.
In short
〜を限りに announces that something you'd been doing stops for good from this point on: “this will be the last time; after that, it's over”. It's used for a personal resolution (quitting smoking), a sporting retirement, the end of a service. The fixed expression 声を限りに means “at the top of one's voice”.
- 今日を限りにたばこはやめる。きょうをかぎりにたばこはやめる。As of today, I'm giving up smoking for good.
- 横綱は今場所を限りに引退すると発表した。よこづなはこんばしょをかぎりにいんたいするとはっぴょうした。The yokozuna announced he would retire at the end of this tournament.
- 子どもたちは声を限りに母親の名を叫んだ。こどもたちはこえをかぎりにははおやのなをさけんだ。The children screamed their mother's name at the top of their voices.
The basics
限り is the limit. 〜を限りに says “making this moment the limit”: what you've been doing until now stops there, for good. The tone is often that of a resolution or a solemn announcement, with a touch of emotion.
The noun before it is a nearby time reference: 今日, 今回, 今年, 今シーズン, 今場所, 今月末.
As of today, I'm giving up smoking for good.
- grammatical form
- noun
- verb
- 今回の公演を限りに、劇団は解散する。こんかいのこうえんをかぎりに、げきだんはかいさんする。The theatre company will disband after this run of performances.
- あの名物店は今月末を限りに閉店する。あのめいぶつてんはこんげつまつをかぎりにへいてんする。That landmark shop will close for good at the end of the month.
How to form it
Time noun + を限りに, followed by a verb of stopping (やめる, 引退する, 閉店する, 終了する, 退く) or a negative (〜しない). The variant 〜限りで (今月限りで) is common in speech and in the press.
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Time noun + を限りに | final end (written, solemn) | 今年を限りに引退する |
| Time noun + 限りで | same meaning, more common | 今月限りで閉店 |
| 声を限りに | at the top of one's voice (fixed) | 声を限りに叫ぶ |
- このサービスは今年度限りで終了となります。このさーびすはこんねんどかぎりでしゅうりょうとなります。This service will end at the close of this financial year.
- 応援団は声を限りに選手の名前を呼んだ。おうえんだんはこえをかぎりにせんしゅのなまえをよんだ。The cheering squad chanted the players' names at the top of their voices.
を限りに or をもって?
Both mark an end, but with a different colour. をもって is administrative and neutral: it's the formula of a regulation or an official notice, and it can even mark an effective date. を限りに carries an emotion or a decision: you're turning the page.
For a personal resolution (giving up drinking, never being late again), を限りに is natural and をもって would sound like a legal text.
- 本日をもって、旧規則は廃止とする。ほんじつをもって、きゅうきそくははいしとする。The old regulations are repealed as of today.
- 今夜を限りに、あの人のことは忘れよう。こんやをかぎりに、あのひとのことはわすれよう。After tonight, I'll forget about that person for good.
Common mistakes
- Using it for a beginning: “×来月を限りに新サービスが始まる” is wrong; を限りに always marks an end (you say 来月から).
- Confusing it with 〜限り (N2): 〜限り on its own means “as long as, within the limits of” (できる限り), whereas を限りに announces an end.
- Taking 声を限りに literally: it doesn't mean “limiting one's voice”, but shouting with all one's might.
7 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N1 point is on the Tōkaidō Line (The press and current affairs) of the Shinkansen.