に限って | Grammar

Structure

[noun] + に限って [verb (plain)] + [noun (time)] + に限って

Description

に限って means "of all times", "of all people": the speaker complains that something goes wrong precisely in the one case where it shouldn't. It follows a noun – very often a time, built from a clause: いそいでいる急いでいるとき時, かさ傘がないひ日 – and the second half is the annoying thing that happens.

、。

The train is always late precisely when I'm in a hurry.

、。

It only ever rains on the days I don't have an umbrella.

、。

The customers pile in on exactly the busiest days.

The second half is usually in the non-past, because it is a pattern you keep running into. A single event in the past works too.

、。

Of all days, I came down with a fever on the day of the big match.

"X, of all people, would never…"

After a person, に限って says that this person is the exception: whatever others might do, they would not. The sentence ends in a strong negative such as はずがない or わけがない.

、。

My child, of all people, would never do such a thing.

、。

He, of all people, would never lie.

"Only"

In notices and announcements, に限って can also mean "only, limited to". にかぎり限り is the more usual form for this.

、。

I will allow it this time only.

、。

Only members may use this facility.

, "not only", and , "not necessarily", are separate grammar points.

Examples

、。

It's precisely when I'm in a hurry that the train is late.

、。

It only rains on the days I don't have an umbrella.

、。

My child, of all people, would never bully anyone.

、。

Of all matches, it was the important one where I got injured.

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He, of all people, would never lie.

、。

Customers always come in droves precisely on the busiest days.

、。

Only the first 100 people can receive a gift.

、。

Only members can use this facility.

、。

It's always on the nights I want to sleep early that the next room is noisy.

、。

I always come across beautiful scenery precisely when I haven't brought my camera.

、。

It's only when I'm on a diet that someone gives me delicious-looking cake.

、。

Only this time, I will grant special permission.

References

に限ってBunpro