Structure Legend
Structure
Verb[た] + きり(1)
Noun + きり
これ(2) + きり(1)
Number + Counter + きり(1)
(1) っきり
(2) それ
Details
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Standard
使用域
一般
About きり
Often used as an adverbial particle, きり may convey that (A) being done resulted in it being the 'first and last time'. This is frequently translated as 'only', 'just', or 'since'. きり comes from the う - Verb 切る 'to cut'. きり may also express that something is happening with (A) as the limit 'nothing more, nothing less'.
きり is often used after the plain past form of verbs, with nouns, or with counters. Let's look at verbs first.
きり is often used after the plain past form of verbs, with nouns, or with counters. Let's look at verbs first.
- 昨日、晩ご飯食べたきり何も食べてないから、めちゃお腹が空いた。I haven't eaten anything since last night, so I am extremely hungry.
- お祖母ちゃんは去年病気で倒れて、寝たきりになった。Grandma got sick last year, and has become bedridden. (Can only sleep)
- 一人きりになれる時間が欲しい。I want some time where I can be alone.
- 彼とは一度きりしか会えていない。I was only able to meet him once.
- 二人っきりの時間はいいね!A time just for the two of us is nice, isn't it!
Caution
きり may also be seen as っきり or キリ. There is no specific change in nuance, but っきり is the most common casual form.Synonyms
Examples
やっと二人っきりになれたね。
It is finally just the two of us.
その店に一回行ったきり、行っていない。
I went to that store only one time and haven't gone again.
寂しい時、一人っきりで泣く。
When I am sad, I cry alone.
父がついに寝たきりになってしまった。
My dad has become completely bedridden.
彼女とは喧嘩したっきり会っていません。
I haven't seen my girlfriend since we had a fight.
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Online
「だけ」「きり」「のみ」
日本語の森
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きり – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (3 in total)
cineebon
About 1 year ago
nihongo no mori video has been made private. Does anyone have another link?
wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV
About 1 year ago
Not to a video, I’m afraid. I can refer you to pp. 73-75 of A Dictionary of Japanese Particles by Sue A. Kawashima (published by Kodansha) and pp. 219-223 of A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar by Seiichi Makino and Michio Tsutsui (published by The Japan Times Publishing).
Daru
About 1 year ago
Went ahead and updated the 日本語の森 to the new, non-unlisted one. Cheers!
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