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〜きり・〜っきり

only, just; since (and not again)

Noun / Number + きり · Verb た-form + きり

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きり has two uses.

After a noun or number, it means "only, just": 二人きりで話したい, "I want to talk, just the two of us"; 一度きりの人生, "you only live once". In speech it's often っきり: これっきり, "only this"; それっきり, "and that was that".

After a た-form, it means something happened and then nothing further did: 彼とは去年会ったきり、連絡していない, "I met him last year, and haven't been in touch since". 出かけたきり帰ってこない, "went out and never came back".

The second half is usually negative. The feeling is that a situation got stuck, or ended without the expected follow-up.

Examples

  • 二人ふたりきりで話はなしたい。

    I want to talk, just the two of us.

  • 彼かれとは去年会きょねんあったきり、連絡れんらくしていない。

    I met him last year, and I haven't been in touch since.

  • 息子むすこは朝出あさでかけたきり、まだ帰かえってこない。

    My son went out this morning and still hasn't come back.

  • 一度いちどきりの人生じんせいだ。

    You only live once.

  • お金かねはこれっきりしかない。

    This is all the money I have.

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