〜限り（は）
As long as 〜限り（は）
Meaning
"As long as ~", "as far as ~" — the condition under which the statement holds.
Formation
[verb dictionary / た] + 限り（は） · [noun] である + 限り · [na-adj] な + 限り
Notes
The main clause stands only while the condition does. Learn 私の知る限り ("as far as I know") and できる限り ("as much as possible") as set phrases — they are the forms you meet most.
Examples
私（わたし）が知る限（しるかぎ）り、彼（かれ）はまだ日本（にほん）にいます。
As far as I know, he is still in Japan.
Breakdown
体（からだ）が丈夫（じょうぶ）な限（かぎ）り、働き続（はたらきつづ）けたいです。
As long as my body holds up, I want to keep working.
Breakdown
できる限（かぎ）りお手伝（てつだ）いします。
I will help as much as I can.
Breakdown
練習（れんしゅう）を続（つづ）ける限（かぎ）り、必（かなら）ず上達（じょうたつ）します。
As long as you keep practising, you will surely improve.
Breakdown
学生（がくせい）である限（かぎ）り、勉強（べんきょう）が本分（ほんぶん）です。
As long as you are a student, study is your duty.
Breakdown
⚠️ Often confused with
〜しか〜ない
Only 〜しか〜ない
"Only ~" — expresses limitation, with a nuance of "nothing but / not enough". MUST be used...
〜だけ
Only / just だけ
"Only / just ~" — neutral limitation. Unlike しか, だけ goes with an AFFIRMATIVE verb and...
[数量]＋も / [数量]＋しか〜ない
Quantity + も / しか
Colours a quantity as large (も, "as many as") or small (しか〜ない, "only").
〜てばかりいる
Do nothing but 〜てばかりいる
Criticises a repeated action — "does nothing but ~", "is always ~ing".
〜だらけ
Covered in 〜だらけ
"Covered in ~", "full of ~" — an unpleasant abundance.
〜きり
Ever since / only 〜きり
Two uses: "and that was the last of it" after a past verb, and "just / only" after a noun.
〜なんて
Something like (belittling) 〜なんて
Dismisses or belittles — "something like ~", "the very idea of ~". Can also express surpri...
〜ない限り
Unless / so long as not 〜ない限り
"Unless ~", "so long as ~ does not happen".
〜に限らず
Not limited to 〜に限らず
"Not just ~", "not limited to ~".
〜に限って
Of all times 〜に限って
"Of all times / of all people ~"; also "~ alone would never".
〜に限る
Nothing beats 〜に限る
"Nothing beats ~", "~ is the best thing".
〜をもって
As of (formal) 〜をもって
"As of ~", "with ~", "by means of ~" — a formal boundary or instrument.
〜に至るまで
Extending even to 〜に至るまで
"Extending all the way to ~", "down to even ~" — the range reaches an extreme.