Japanese with Manga

Of all times to happen with

Grammar: Limit

〜に限(かぎ)って singles out an exceptional or badly timed case. It often translates as “of all times” or “on the one occasion when”.

Usage Notes

The pattern often links a particular occasion to an unwanted outcome. It can express complaint, irony, or frustration: the bad thing happened on exactly the wrong day.

It usually follows a noun for a time, situation, or condition.

Formation

View formation details
  1. Noun + に + 限(かぎ)って
    • 傘(かさ)を持(も)っていない日(ひ)に限(かぎ)って雨(あめ)が降(ふ)った
    • "Only on the day I didn't bring an umbrella, it rained."

Further Reading

Examples

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Lunch duty today of all days with 〜に限って

Grammar Explanation: Of all times to happen with 〜に限って

Manga panel from 好きな子がめがねを忘れた showing example of Lunch duty today of all days with 〜に限って.
好きな子がめがねを忘れた » Volume 1 » Page 47

Komura and Mie have serving duty in the cafeteria. Normally this wouldn’t be an issue, except today Mie accidentally stepped on her glasses and broke them, and can barely see without them.

木村(こむら):
「そしてそんな日(ひ)に限(かぎ)って給食(きゅうしょく)当番(とうばん)」
“Thus, on a day such as that (of all days), she has lunch duty.”
「だから今日(きょう)も俺(おれ)が三重(みえ)さんをサポートしようと思(おも)っただけど…」
“Therefore, I thought I'd support Mie today as well, but...”
男(おとこ)の子(こ):
「まま待(ま)って待(ま)って待(ま)って」
“W-w-wait, wait, wait!”