How to tell them apart
にとどまらず describes something starting from one point and extending further beyond it, as in 被害は東京にとどまらず大阪にも及んだ. に限らず means something is not restricted to one category, as in 年齢に限らず誰でも参加できる. Swapping them sounds off because とどまらず stresses progression beyond a limit, while 限らず stresses broad scope without that sense of spread.
- にとどまらず Use にとどまらず to say something is not confined to its starting point but reaches further beyond an expected limit.
- に限らず Use に限らず to say something is not restricted to a particular category or case but applies broadly.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| にとどまらず nitodomarazu | not confined to; reaching further than | N1 |
| に限らず ni razu | not restricted to; goes beyond | N2 |
にとどまらず nitodomarazu
not confined to; reaching further than
にとどまらず means something is not confined to one area and reaches further than expected. It is used to show that an effect, influence, or quality extends beyond the first noun to something larger or different. It follows a noun, often with だけ, as in 農業にとどまらず or 野球だけにとどまらず. It comes from the negative form of とどまる, to stay or remain, and is common in formal writing and news.
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その問題は単に技術的なものにとどまらず、組織全体の意識に関わる。
The problem is not merely technical; it concerns the awareness of the whole organization.
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台風の影響は農業にとどまらず、物流や観光にも及んだ。
The typhoon's impact reached beyond agriculture, affecting distribution and tourism too.
に限らず ni razu
not restricted to; goes beyond
に限らず expresses that something is not restricted to the stated item and applies more broadly to other cases. It attaches directly to a noun, as in 子どもに限らず or 休日に限らず, and is typically followed by a clause containing も to show inclusion. It sounds relatively formal and often appears in explanations or announcements where the speaker widens the scope beyond expectations.
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TOEICの学習に限らず、英語を学ぶのであれば英和辞典は必携の書の一つでしょう。
An English-Japanese dictionary is surely a must have book, not just for those taking TOEIC, but for all studying English.
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子どもに限らず、大人もこの映画を楽しめる。
Not just children, adults can enjoy this movie too.
にとどまらず and に限らず are JLPT N2–N1 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.