きり
Only / Just / Since
kiri
TypeFocus
JLPT Leveln2
Summary
Indicates 'only' with a sense of finality, or marks the last time something happened (since then, never).
Usage Rules
- •Only/just: emphatic 'only' (in negative or positive contexts)
- •〜たきり: since〜(and hasn't happened again)
- •きりだ: that's all / that's it
- •Similar to だけ but with a nuance of 'no more'
- •Often used in the pattern 〜きり〜ない
- •より他に〜きり〜ない: there is no alternative but
Example Sentences
二人きりで話したい。
I want to talk alone, just the two of us.
きょねんあったきりあっていない。
I met him last year and haven't seen him since.
これきりにしよう。
Let's stop here / let's make this the last.
それきり何もいわなかった。
Since then, he hasn't said anything.
一つきりのこっていない。
Only one is left.
Common Mistake
Confusing きり (since then, never again) with だけ (neutral 'only'). きり implies finality.