Japanese grammar
What does ～きり mean? Japanese grammar N3
～きり means only ~ (sole limit); ever since (no further occurrence).
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N3 |
|---|---|
| Structure | Vた + きり N + きり |
| Romaji | kiri |
| Meaning | only ~ (sole limit); ever since (no further occurrence) |
Forming it
| Noun | 二人 + きり |
|---|---|
| Verb | 出かけた + きり |
How to use it
Noun + きり emphasizes the limit "only this much"; Vた + きり states that something happened and then nothing further developed as it should have.
- 「Nきり」 emphasizes the LIMIT "only this much": 二人きり (just the two of us), 一度きり (only once).
- 「Vたきり」 states that an action happened and AFTER THAT there was no further development that should have occurred, usually carrying a nuance of regret or unusualness.
- Close to 「～だけ」 in the sense of limitation, but 「きり」 emphasizes "only, exclusively, no more"; the form 「Vたきり」 emphasizes "stopped there from then on".
Examples
彼とは一度会ったきり、その後会っていない。
I met him just once and haven’t seen him since.
今日は二人きりで話したい。
Today I want to talk just the two of us.
Keep in mind
- 「きり」 can become 「っきり」 in colloquial speech.
- 「Vたきり + negative」 is very common: 出て行ったきり、帰ってこない.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong朝出かけるきり、まだ帰ってこない。
He left home this morning and still hasn't come back.
Correct朝出かけたきり、まだ帰ってこない。
The meaning "left and hasn't been back since" uses the past-tense form 「Vたきり」.
-
Wrong彼に一度きりに会った。
I only met him exactly once.
Correct彼に一度きり会った。
「きり」 in the limiting sense attaches directly, without adding 「に」.
Exam tips
- Nきり = only (limitation); Vたきり = did it and then stopped, often used with a negative.