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〜きりがない

there's no end to it

ば-form / たら / と + きりがない

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きりがない means something could go on forever: 心配すればきりがない, "if you start worrying, there's no end to it". きり is "limit" or "end", from 切る, so it's "there's no cut-off point".

It usually follows a conditional (ば, たら, と) describing something that could be repeated or listed without limit: complaining, worrying, listing wants, comparing yourself with others.

It's often used to justify stopping: 細かいことを言えばきりがないので、この辺で終わります, "I could go on about the details forever, so I'll stop here".

It's often written 切りがない, and in casual writing キリがない.

Examples

  • 心配しんぱいすればきりがない。

    If you start worrying, there's no end to it.

  • 文句もんくを言いい出だしたらきりがない。

    Once you start complaining, there's no end to it.

  • 欲ほしい物ものを数かぞえたらきりがない。

    If I listed everything I wanted, I'd never stop.

  • 上うえを見みればきりがない。

    If you compare yourself with those above you, there's no end to it.

  • 細こまかいことを言いえばきりがないので、この辺へんで終おわります。

    I could go on about the details forever, so I'll stop here.

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