GRAMMAR DETAIL
ない限り
Indicates that the following situation cannot hold unless the stated condition is met.
Examples
本人の同意がない限り、写真は公開できない。
The photograph cannot be made public without the person's consent.
Words used
特別な事情がない限り、店は毎日開いている。
Unless there are special circumstances, the store is open every day.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Add
限り（かぎり）to a negative form to keep the following statement valid while the preceding event or state is absent. - Basic usage:
特別な事情がない限り、店は毎日開いている。states that the shop opens daily unless special circumstances arise.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Positive and negative following clauses
同意がない限り公開できないprevents publication without consent, while特別な事情がない限り開いているstates that the shop opens when there are no special circumstances. The construction does not require a negative following clause.
- When an exception occurs
雨が降らない限り実施するestablishes that the event goes ahead when it does not rain. Additional information is needed to settle what happens if it does rain.