〜きり
kiri / -kkiri
By Nihongo PathUpdated
This form is also taught at JLPT N3, where it carries a different sense or register.
Meaning
(a) only; (b) ever since (and nothing more); (c) continuously
〜きり has three uses. (a) N + きり: "only" (二人きり, just the two of us). (b) Vた + きり: "ever since… (and nothing more)", with a strong sense that the expected follow-up never happened (he went out and hasn't come back). (c) Vます + きり: "continuously", in set words like 寝たきり (bedridden) and 付きっきり (constantly attending).
Both registers; っきり is the spoken form (二人っきり, 行ったっきり). The Vたきり use is almost always followed by a negative (〜ない・〜ていない) or by an unfulfilled expectation.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
(a) N + きり; (b) Vた + きり; (c) Vます + きり (寝たきり・付きっきり)
Visual diagram
| Aspect | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (a) N + きり | only | 二人きりで話す |
| (b) Vた + きり | since… and nothing since | 出かけたきり帰らない |
| (c) Vます + きり | continuously | 寝たきり・付きっきり |
Natural examples
二人きりで話したい。
ふたりきりではなしたい。
I want to talk just the two of us.
Use (a): only the two of us.
彼は出かけたきり、帰ってこない。
かれはでかけたきり、かえってこない。
He went out and hasn't come back since.
Use (b): went out and no return.
祖母は寝たきりになってしまった。
そぼはねたきりになってしまった。
My grandmother has become bedridden.
Use (c): 寝たきり as a fixed word.
彼女とは去年会ったきり、連絡を取っていない。
かのじょとはきょねんあったきり、れんらくをとっていない。
I met her last year and haven't been in touch since.
Vたきり + 〜ていない.
母は病気の祖母に付きっきりで看病した。
はははびょうきのそぼにつきっきりでかんびょうした。
My mother nursed my sick grandmother, staying by her side constantly.
付きっきり = continuously attending.
Similar grammar and the difference
"Since" with a continuing state, neutral; きり adds the feeling that something expected did not follow. Compare side by side
"As it is, unchanged": a state left the same; Vたきり emphasizes no next action. Compare side by side
〜だけ
Plain "only"; きり adds an emotional "no one/nothing else".
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 彼は出かけるきり、帰ってこない。
- ✓
- 彼は出かけたきり、帰ってこない。
- Why
- The "since" use needs Vた.
- ✗
- 去年会ったきり、今年も会った。
- ✓
- 去年会ったきり、今年は会っていない。
- Why
- Vたきり implies nothing followed; a positive follow-up contradicts it.
- ✗
- 一人きりに住んでいる。
- ✓
- 一人きりで住んでいる。
- Why
- N + きり takes で when describing a manner.
Set words: 寝たきり, 付きっきり, 二人きり, 一人きり, これっきり, それっきり. それっきり / これっきり: "and that was the last (time)". Sentence-final use in speech: 手紙は一度来たきりだ (came once and never again).
JLPT N2 tips
On the exam
- Vた + blank + negative (帰ってこない・連絡がない) → きり.
- Distractors: 以来, まま, だけ. まま describes an unchanged state; きり is about no next action.
- N + きり (二人きり) is tested as "only" and may be replaced by だけ in meaning questions.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜きり mean?
(a) only; (b) ever since (and nothing more); (c) continuously. 〜きり has three uses. (a) N + きり: "only" (二人きり, just the two of us). (b) Vた + きり: "ever since… (and nothing more)", with a strong sense that the expected follow-up never happened (he went out and hasn't come back). (c) Vます + きり: "continuously", in set words like 寝たきり (bedridden) and 付きっきり (constantly attending).
How do you form 〜きり?
(a) N + きり; (b) Vた + きり; (c) Vます + きり (寝たきり・付きっきり). V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜きり used?
Both registers; っきり is the spoken form (二人っきり, 行ったっきり). The Vたきり use is almost always followed by a negative (〜ない・〜ていない) or by an unfulfilled expectation.
What is the difference between 〜きり and 〜以来?
"Since" with a continuing state, neutral; きり adds the feeling that something expected did not follow.
What is the difference between 〜きり and 〜まま?
"As it is, unchanged": a state left the same; Vたきり emphasizes no next action.
What is a common mistake with 〜きり?
Wrong: 彼は出かけるきり、帰ってこない。 Right: 彼は出かけたきり、帰ってこない。 The "since" use needs Vた.
Quick check
父は朝出かけた（ ）、夜になっても帰ってこない。