際限

• Reading: さいげん
• Romaji: saigen
• Kanji breakdown: 際 (sai/kiwa) — boundary, edge, occasion; 限 (gen/kagi) — limit, bounds
• Pronunciation: /sa.i.ɡe.ɴ/

Meaning

Limit; bounds; end; used almost exclusively in the phrase 際限がない (there is no end to it).

A noun that refers to a boundary or limit, most commonly encountered in the negative phrase 際限がない or 際限なく (endlessly, without limit). This idiomatic usage expresses something that continues or escalates without any apparent stopping point — demands, greed, arguments, or expenses. Positive standalone use is rare.

Examples

1. 彼の要求には際限がなく、こちらの忍耐も限界に近づいていた。 His demands were endless, and my patience was reaching its limit.
2. 際限なく続く会議に、全員がうんざりしていた。 Everyone was fed up with the meetings that went on without end.
3. 費用が際限なく膨らんでいくので、一度立ち止まって見直す必要があった。 Since the costs kept ballooning without limit, we needed to stop and reassess.

Usage Guide

Context: complaints, criticism, expenses, debate

Tone: negative

Origin & History

From 際 (sai, boundary/edge) and 限 (gen, limit/bounds). Both characters convey the idea of an edge or frontier; the compound means the outer boundary. Its near-exclusive use in negative constructions emphasises the absence of such a limit.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal