日本語道場

Nihongo Dojo — N3 → N2

Grammar

N3

～ないかぎり

~nai kagiri

unless, as long as... not

When to use it

Use ～ないかぎり in formal writing or measured speech to state the one condition that must change before something becomes possible — "unless X, Y won't happen." It is stronger and more absolute than なければ or ないと: it frames the main clause as fixed for as long as the negative state continues, which makes it common in contracts, policy documents, reports and negotiation. The main clause is typically negative, cautionary, or a statement of impossibility.

Formation

  • Verbs: plain negative (～ない) + かぎり → 承認しない限り、変更されない限り
  • i-adjectives: ～くない + かぎり → 条件がよくない限り
  • na-adjectives: ～でない + かぎり (also ～ではない限り) → 緊急でない限り
  • Nouns: ～でない + かぎり (also ～ではない限り) → 社員でない限り
  • Topic marker は may be added for emphasis: ～ないかぎりは
  • No past tense inside the clause; the pattern describes an ongoing state, not a one-off event.

Examples

  • Unless we have the client's approval, we can't begin.

  • Unless the price is reconsidered, a contract will be difficult.

  • Unless it's urgent, please refrain from contacting us on weekends.

  • As long as the additional documents don't arrive, the review can't proceed.

  • Unless we change the structure, the same mistakes will repeat.