Meaning & usage
に限って marks a narrow exception and means only on that occasion or especially when that situation holds, often with frustration at bad timing like a delay when in a hurry. It follows a noun, as in その日に限って, or a time clause with とき, as in 急いでいる時に限って. It appears inside the sentence before the main predicate and is common in both speech and writing.
Example sentences 5
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急いでいる時に限ってバスが遅れる。
Our bus comes late, particularly when we are in a hurry.
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その日に限って財布を家に忘れた。
I left my wallet at home on that particular day.
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その日に限って彼は欠席だった。
He was absent on the particular day.
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シャワーをしている時に限って、なんでいつも電話がかかるんだ？
Why does the phone always ring when I'm in the shower?
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やるべきことがあるときに限って、やらなくていいことをやりたくなる。
It's only when I have things I have to do that I find I want to do things I don't have to do.
In past JLPT papers
This came up in 1 past exam question.
