777 - かぎりでは

JLPT N2: かぎりでは (as far as [I can tell / I've heard / etc.])

We've seen 限り (かぎり), which means something like "limit," "bounds," "extent," etc., in quite a few lessons already:

- [NDL #458] - JLPT N2: 限り (so long as)
- [NDL #465] - JLPT N2: 限り (as much as possible)
- [NDL #535] - JLPT N2: ないかぎり
- [NDL #543] - JLPT N1: かぎりだ
- [NDL #669] - JLPT N1: を限りに(をかぎりに)

We've also covered a grammar point utilizing the verb form, 限る (かぎる):

- [NDL #625] - JLPT N3: にかぎる (just the thing; nothing beats...)


In this lesson, we're looking at how 限りでは (かぎりでは) is used to describe a limited source of information.

For example, combining the verb 知る (しる // to know) with 限りでは gives us 知る限りでは (しるかぎりでは), which means something like "as far as (I) know." It can be used in a sentence like this:


私の知る限りでは、小笠原諸島へ行く手段は船のみです。
わたし の しる かぎりでは、 おがさわら しょとう へ いく しゅだん は ふね のみ です。
As far as I know, the only way to get to the Ogasawara Islands is by boat.
Literally: “I + の + know + 限りでは, + Ogasawara Islands + へ + go + method + は + boat + only + です.”

The word coming before 限りでは will describe a method by which information is obtained.

Another example:


留学中の友達に聞いた限りでは、バンクーバーはそんなに寒くないそうだ。
りゅうがく ちゅう の ともだち に きいた かぎりでは、 バンクーバー は そんなに さむくない そうだ。
According to my friend who’s studying abroad there, Vancouver isn’t all that cold.
Literally: “study abroad + in the middle of + の + friend + に + heard + 限りでは, + Vancouver + は + (not) that much + isn’t cold + そうだ (=[hearsay marker]).”


👷 Construction 👷

We have already seen that a verb can come before 限りでは. Specifically, we can put:

Vる / Vた限りでは

It is also possible to have a NOUN followed by before 限りでは

NOUN限りでは

Here is an example of the latter:


独自に行ったアンケート調査かぎりでは、農業に関心を寄せる若者が増えているようだ。
どくじ に おこなった アンケート ちょうさ の かぎりでは、 のうぎょう に かんしん を よせる わかもの が ふえている ようだ。
Based on the results of an independent survey, it appears that the number of young people interested in farming is increasing.
Literally: “independent + に + conducted + survey + investigation / examination + の + かぎりでは, + agriculture / farming + に + become interested (=interest + を + draw near) + young people + が + are increasing + it seems (=ようだ).”


We'll end the lesson with a casual dialogue...


A:
先生のお兄さん、どんな人だった?
せんせい の おにいさん、 どんな ひと だった?
What was Sensei’s brother like?
Literally: “sensei + の + older brother, + what kind of + person + was?”


B:
ちょっと話した限りでは、とても優しそうな人だったよ。
ちょっと はなした かぎりでは、 やさしそうな ひと だった よ。
Based on my short time talking with him, he seemed like a really nice person.
Literally: “a little bit + spoke + 限りでは, + very + nice-seeming + person + was + よ.”


This is quite a useful grammar point, in my opinion.

I'm also happy to say that it's relatively straightforward.

We're almost done studying 限り/限る, by the way. Just a couple of lessons left!

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