Skip to content

にとどまらず・に限らず: the difference

Meaning

Not limited to, Not only...but also, Not stopping at

Past papers

Not yet

Example

共感きょうかんは人間にんげんにとどまらず、動物どうぶつにも見みられるものである。

Empathy is not limited to humans; it can also be seen in animals.

Meaning

Not just, Not only… but also

Past papers

Tested once in past papers

Example

ラッシュアワーに限かぎらず、電車でんしゃにはあまり乗のりたくない。

Not only during rush hour, but I don't really want to ride the train.

How to tell them apart

「にとどまらず」: crosses a boundary and spreads outward. For example, a fire that did not stop at the warehouse but reached the houses.

「に限らず」: just says 'not only A, B too', with no sense of spreading, as in 「若者に限らず高齢者も利用する」 (Not only young people but also older people use it).

All about にとどまらず ›All about に限らず ›