GRAMMAR
〜に限って ①
only (on that day/curiously)
Explanation
NOTE
〜に限って means of all times/things, specifically this one — usually for an unfortunate coincidence.
今日に限って、傘を忘れた。
Of all days, today I forgot my umbrella.
Implies *of all the days it could rain, today is the one I forgot* — bad timing.
NOTE
It often pairs with time nouns (今日, 今夜) or people (うちの子) to single one out as the exception.
NOTE
The result clause usually shows something unusual or inconvenient — a contrast with what normally happens.
STRUCTURE
N辞
に<ruby>限<rt>かぎ</rt></ruby>って急いでいる時に限って、電車が遅れる。
Isoide iru toki ni kagitte, densha ga okureru.
Of all times, the train is late when I'm in a hurry.
今夜に限って、子供が寝てくれない。
Konya ni kagitte, kodomo ga nete kurenai.
Of all nights, tonight my child won't sleep.
うちの子に限って、そんなことはしない。
Uchi no ko ni kagitte, sonna koto wa shinai.
My child of all people wouldn't do such a thing.
Practice exercises
1
私の友だちの内で、彼にに限って、秘密を漏らした。
Among my friends, curiously, only he leaked the secret.
Answer
に限って
2
いつもは確実な彼が、この肝心な時にに限って連絡がとれない。
He's always reliable, but curiously, only at this crucial time can I not reach him.
Answer
に限って
3
会議に先立ち、私が準備した資料にに限って紛失した。
Prior to the meeting, curiously, only the materials I prepared went missing.
Answer
に限って
4
大切な場面に限って、彼は体調を崩す。
Curiously, only in important situations does he get sick.
Answer
に限って
5
出かけようとする時にに限って、雨が降り出した。
Curiously, only when I was about to go out, it started raining.
Answer
に限って