Practice JLPTHow to tell them apart
にとどまらず emphasizes that an action or state goes beyond a boundary and continues or extends further, often with a sense of surpassing expectations or a natural stopping point. に限らず simply means not restricted to one category or case, broadening a scope. この薬は髪を防ぐにとどまらず白髪も戻す implies going beyond what it stops at, while 何事に限らず means regardless of the category. Swapping them sounds off because にとどまらず carries a sense of progression beyond a limit, whereas に限らず is about scope.
- にとどまらず Use にとどまらず when something extends beyond a boundary or expected limit rather than stopping there.
- に限らず Use に限らず when you want to say not limited to a particular category or case, broadening the scope.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| にとどまらず nitodomarazu | Not limited to / going beyond | N1 |
| に限らず ni razu | Not limited to | N2 |
にとどまらず nitodomarazu
Not limited to / going beyond
Doesn’t stop with ~; doesn’t end with ~; not limited to ~; going beyond ~; not only ~ (but also ~) | A phrase indicating that something goes beyond a spatial/temporal boundary.
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この薬は髪が薄くなるのを防ぐだけにとどまらず、白髪を黒い髪に戻します。
Not only does this medicine prevent your hair from thinning, it brings your grey hair back to its original black colour.
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先輩方には単に学生時代にとどまらず、卒業後も人生のよき先輩として貴重なアドバイスをいただいてまいりました。
My senior schoolmates, as people more experienced in life, have given me invaluable advice, not only when I was a student but also after I graduated.
に限らず ni razu
Not limited to
Not limited to ~ (but also); not only ~ (but also) | Not limiting something to ~.
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何事に限らず仕事は誠意をもって行うことが大切だ。
Whatever you do, it is important to do it with sincerity.
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果物は何に限らず好きです。
I like any kind of fruit.
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 — meanings, usage and example sentences — so you can tell them apart.