きり

Only, Since

Level 3Sounds Like kiri

きり (or the emphatic っきり) is used to limit a situation. It either means 'only' when used with nouns/numbers, or 'ever since' when used with the past tense of a verb, implying that the action happened once and nothing has changed since then.

How It Works

きり functions in three primary ways depending on what it attaches to:

1. With Nouns (Limitation):
It means 'only' or 'just.' It is most commonly used with small numbers, counters, or demonstrative pronouns like これ or それ. In casual speech, it often becomes っきり.

  • 一人（ひとり）きり - Just one person / Alone
  • これきり - Just this / Only this much

2. With Verbs (Persistent State):
When attached to the た form (past tense) of a verb, it means 'ever since [action] happened.' It implies that after that specific event, no further action or change occurred. Note that the following clause is typically negative, expressing that something has not happened since the initial event. It often carries a nuance of concern or surprise.

  • 行（い）ったきり帰（かえ）ってこない - He went out and hasn't come back since.
  • 一度（いちど）会（あ）ったきりだ - I met them once, and that was the last time (haven't met since).

3. With Masu-stems (Total Absorption):
In specific set phrases, it attaches to the verb stem to show someone is completely occupied with one task.

  • 付（つ）きっきり - Constantly attending to/staying by someone's side.

Examples (5)

  1. 今夜は二人きりで話したいことがあります。

    There is something I want to talk about tonight, just the two of us.

    Word by Word: Tonight / as for / two people / only / with / want to talk / thing / exists.

    Here, 「二人きり」（ふたりきり） emphasizes the exclusivity of the situation—no one else is present.

  2. 彼は朝出かけたきり、まだ戻っていない。

    He went out this morning and hasn't returned yet.

    Word by Word: He / as for / morning / went out / since / yet / has not returned.

    Using the past tense 「出かけた」（でかけた） with きり indicates that the act of leaving was the last event, and the expected return hasn't happened.

  3. そのニュースを聞いたのは、一度きりです。

    I only heard that news once.

    Word by Word: That / news / object / heard / nominalizer / as for / one time / only / is.

    Attaching きり to 「一度」（いちど） emphasizes that it happened exactly once and never again.

  4. 母は先月からずっと寝たきりの状態です。

    My mother has been bedridden since last month.

    Word by Word: Mother / as for / last month / from / all the time / slept / since / possessive / state / is.

    「寝たきり」（ねたきり） is a common set phrase meaning 'bedridden,' literally 'in a state of having only slept (without getting up).'

  5. お小遣いはこれっきりだよ。

    This is the last of the pocket money, okay?

    Word by Word: Pocket money / as for / this / only / is / emphasis.

    The emphatic 「っきり」 is used with 「これ」 to show a strict limit—there is no more coming.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the dictionary form of a verb instead of the past tense for the 'since' meaning.

    日本に行くきり、連絡がない。
    日本に行ったきり、連絡がない。

    To express 'ever since,' you must use the た form. Using the dictionary form is grammatically incorrect in this context.

  • Using 'きり' for general objects where 'dake' is more appropriate.

    リンゴきり食べた。
    リンゴだけ食べた。

    'きり' is usually restricted to numbers, counters, and demonstratives (this/that). For general nouns like 'apple,' use だけ.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

きりLevel 3Only, Since

Learn This First

To understand きり, learners need to be familiar with the plain past tense (た-form) for its 'since' meaning, and the general concept of restrictive particles like だけ for its 'only' meaning. It is often used to describe a state that has persisted without change since a specific point in time.

Words in This Pattern

きり