Japanese Grammar: ~kiri (Since... and nothing else)
た-form + きり to say an action happened once and then stopped, with no further developments.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use {切り|きり} to emphasize that something happened once and never again, or that a quantity is limited to exactly that amount.
- Use with verbs in past tense to mean 'only once and never since': {会った|あった}きり。
- Use with nouns to mean 'only that amount/person': {二人|ふたり}きり。
- Often implies a sense of finality or longing depending on context.
Overview
Japanese grammar provides many ways to describe sequences of events, but ~kiri (〜きり) is unique. At its core, ~kiri marks an action as the final event in a sequence, after which an expected or logical next step did not happen. It signals that a situation has been static or unresolved ever since that one, single action occurred. You can think of it as meaning, "Since X happened...
and that was it. Nothing else has happened since."
This is fundamentally different from a neutral sequential marker like ~te kara (〜てから), which simply means "after doing X." Instead, ~kiri is infused with a subjective nuance, typically expressing surprise, mild frustration, disappointment, or concern. It highlights a gap between what happened and what should have happened next. For example, 貸したきり返ってこない (kashita kiri kaette konai) doesn't just mean "I lent it and it hasn't been returned"; it strongly implies, "I lent it, and contrary to my expectation, it still hasn't been returned."
While its primary and most complex usage is with verbs in the past tense (た-form), ~kiri also functions as a limiting particle with nouns and counters, meaning "only" or "just" (e.g., 二人きり - futari kiri, "just the two of us"). This article will focus on the verbal pattern, as its temporal and emotional implications are central to B2-level communication.
How This Grammar Works
~kiri is its function as a focus particle that sets a terminal boundary. It attaches to the past-tense plain form of a verb (た-form), which establishes a completed, factual event. By adding ~kiri, you are linguistically "focusing" on that event as the definitive endpoint of a dynamic situation.~kiri arises from implicature—a concept where meaning is conveyed without being explicitly stated. The grammar itself doesn't contain a word for "disappointment," but the structure creates this feeling by highlighting a logical or social inconsistency. When you say someone left and didn't come back (行ったきり帰らない - itta kiri kaeranai), you are pointing out the abnormal absence of the second half of a natural pair: going and returning.彼に連絡したきり、返信がない。(Kare ni renraku shita kiri, henshin ga nai.)連絡した(renraku shita): This is the completed action. A fact. I contacted him.きり(kiri): This particle marks the action as the final one. It draws a line in time.返信がない(henshin ga nai): This is the resulting state. The expected follow-up (a reply) is absent, creating an unresolved tension.
~kiri tells your listener: "Here is the last thing that happened. Notice the conspicuous lack of anything happening since then." This invites the listener to infer the speaker's feelings about the situation. This method of embedding subjective nuance into grammatical structures, rather than stating feelings with adjectives, is a cornerstone of advanced Japanese.Formation Pattern
~kiri are strict but straightforward. It's crucial to distinguish between its use with verbs and its use with nouns.
た-form) of a verb.
きり (kiri) and っきり (kkiri) is a matter of emphasis and style. っきり is more colloquial and adds a stronger emotional weight, conveying greater finality, exasperation, or surprise.
た-form | た-form + きり | Example Sentence (Polite) |
読む (to read) | 読んだ | 読んだきり | その本は子供の頃に一度読んだきりです。 (I read that book once when I was a child, and haven't since.) |
行く (to go) | 行った | 行ったきり | 父は3年前に単身赴任で大阪へ行ったきり、戻ってきません。 (My father went to Osaka on a solo assignment 3 years ago and hasn't come back.) |
見る (to see) | 見た | 見たきり | 去年の同窓会で会ったきり、彼には会っていません。 (Since seeing him at the class reunion last year, I haven't seen him.) |
{する} (to do) | した | したきり | 「後でやる」と約束したきり、何も進んでいない。 (He promised "I'll do it later," and since then, nothing has progressed.) |
来る (to come) | 来た | 来たきり | 一度だけ家に来たきり、それから音沙汰がない。 (He came to my house just once, and since then there's been no contact.) |
~kiri shifts its meaning from a temporal boundary to a quantitative limit.
二人きり (futari kiri): Just the two of us; all alone together.
これっきり (korekkiri): Just this and no more; this is the very last one.
一回きり (ikkai kiri): Only one time.
When To Use It
~kiri correctly adds a layer of sophisticated, natural-sounding nuance to your Japanese. You should use it in specific contexts where you want to highlight cessation or an unresolved state.- 1To Emphasize an Unfulfilled Expectation in a Sequence
息子は「すぐ戻るよ」と言って出かけたきり、もう夜だ。(Musuko wa "sugu modoru yo" to itte dekaketa kiri, mō yoru da.) - "My son went out saying, 'I'll be right back,' and since then, it's already night."田中さんから資料を借りたきり、まだ返せていない。(Tanaka-san kara shiryō o karita kiri, mada kaesete inai.) - "I borrowed the documents from Tanaka-san and (to my regret) haven't been able to return them yet."
- 1To Describe a Continuous, Unchanging State
~kiri to describe a state that started after a specific event and has remained completely static, often with a negative connotation. The focus is on the lack of change or progress.祖母は病気で倒れて以来|いらい}、ずっと寝たきりの生活だ。(Sobo wa byōki de taorete irai, zutto netakiri no seikatsu da.) - "Ever since my grandmother collapsed from her illness, she has been bedridden." (Here寝たきりhas become a set noun phrase).彼は自分の部屋に入ったっきり、返事もしない。(Kare wa jibun no heya ni haitta kkiri, henji mo shinai.) - "He went into his room and, since then, won't even answer."
- 1To Set a Firm Final Boundary
これ or 今回 and declares an action will not be repeated. It functions as a strong statement of finality.甘いものを食べるのは、今日っきりだからね！(Amai mono o taberu no wa, kyōkkiri da kara ne!) - "Eating sweets is just for today, okay! (And absolutely no more after this)."こんな大変な仕事は{これっきり}にしたい。(Konna taihen na shigoto wa korekkiri ni shitai.) - "I want this to be the last time I ever do such a difficult job."
Common Mistakes
~kiri by underestimating its specific and emotionally-loaded nuance. Avoiding these common pitfalls is key to using it correctly.- 1Confusing
~kiriwith Neutral~te kara(〜てから)
~te kara simply connects events in a timeline. ~kiri implies the timeline unexpectedly stopped.- Incorrect:
*ご飯を食べたきり、会社へ行った。This sounds very strange, like you went to work and never returned or did anything else again. The listener is left waiting for the negative consequence. - Correct (Neutral Sequence):
ご飯を食べてから、会社へ行った。("After eating, I went to work.") - Correct (
~kiri):朝ごはんを食べたきり、会議が続いて何も口にしていない。("Since eating breakfast, meetings have continued and I haven't eaten a thing.")
- 1Using
~kiriwith a Positive or logically Expected Outcome
~kiri creates an expectation of something not happening, pairing it with a positive or natural conclusion is contradictory.- Incorrect:
*一生懸命勉強したきり、試験に合格した。The structure...shita kiriprimes the listener for failure or a lack of results, so the success of合格したfeels grammatically and logically jarring. - Correct:
一生懸命勉強したら、試験に合格した。("When I studied hard, I passed the exam.")
- 1Confusing
~kiri(〜きり) and~mama(〜まま)
~mama describes the persistence of a state during another action, while ~kiri describes the lack of a new action after a previous one has ended.V-ta + mama (〜たまま) | V-ta + kiri (〜たきり) |窓を開けたまま寝てしまった。 (I fell asleep with the window still open.) | 彼が窓を開けたきり、誰も閉めていない。 (He opened the window, and since then, no one has closed it.) |~mama is about how a state was left. ~kiri is about what hasn't happened since an action was taken.Real Conversations
In modern Japanese, ~kiri (and especially ~kkiri) is common in casual conversation, texting, and social media to express subtle frustration, nostalgia, or concern.
Example 1
A: 山本くん、どうしたんだろう？ (Yamamoto-kun, dō shitan darō?)
(I wonder what's up with Yamamoto?)
B: さあ…「また連絡するね」ってメッセージが来たっきり、もう一週間も音沙汰なし。 (Sā... "Mata renraku suru ne" tte messēji ga kita kkiri, mō isshūkan mo otosata nashi.)
(Who knows... I got a message saying "I'll contact you again," and since then, there's been nothing for a whole week.)
The ~kkiri here emphasizes the finality of that last message and the speaker's frustration with the subsequent silence.*
Example 2
最近、全然ギター弾いてないなあ。大学の時に高いのを買ったきり、押入れに眠ってるよ。 (Saikin, zenzen gitā hiitenai nā. Daigaku no toki ni takai no o katta kiri, oshiire ni nemutteru yo.)
(I haven't played guitar at all recently. Since I bought an expensive one in college, it's just been sitting dormant in the closet.)
Here, 買ったきり marks the purchase as the last significant action related to the guitar, highlighting the sad, static state that followed.*
Example 3
佐藤さん、朝から席にカバンが置いたままなのに、姿が見えないね。トイレに行ったきりかな？ (Satō-san, asa kara seki ni kaban ga oita mama na noni, sugata ga mienai ne. Toire ni itta kiri kana?)
(Sato-san's bag has been on her seat since this morning, but I haven't seen her. I wonder if she just went to the restroom and hasn't come back?)
This shows a real-time use of ~kiri to form a hypothesis about an unresolved situation.*
Quick FAQ
きり and っきり?っきり (kkiri) as the more intense, emotional, and casual version. It adds a stronger punch. きり (kiri) is more neutral and can be used in slightly more formal writing.っきり is very common and often emphasizes a feeling of "absolutely nothing since then!" or "just this and no more!"~kiri for something positive?~te kara (〜てから) or ~tara (〜たら) are the natural choices.~kiri would create a confusing contradiction.V-ta + kiri and Noun + kiri?V-ta + kiri= Time. It's about an action that stopped a sequence. Think "since that time."Noun + kiri= Things. It's about a quantity or group being limited. Think "only that thing/person."
会ったきり (atta kiri) is "since we met," while 一人きり (hitori kiri) is "only one person."~kiri always about disappointment?卒業してからは彼と一度会ったきりだ (Sotsugyō shite kara wa kare to ichido atta kiri da - "Since graduating, I've only met him once"). The primary feeling might be simple distance rather than sharp disappointment.~kiri from ~mama?~mama(〜まま): Describes a state that continues during something else. Key phrase: "with [X] left as it is." Example:テレビをつけたまま寝てしまった。(I fell asleep with the TV left on).~kiri(〜きり): Describes what hasn't happened since a final action. Key phrase: "since [X], and then nothing." Example:「またね」と言ったきり、連絡がない。(Since he said 'see you later', there's been no contact).
Formation Table
| Type | Structure | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Noun
|
Noun + きり
|
{二人|ふたり}きり
|
Just the two of us
|
|
Verb (Past)
|
Verb-ta + きり
|
{会った|あった}きり
|
Met once and never since
|
|
Counter
|
Counter + きり
|
{一つ|ひとつ}きり
|
Only one
|
Meanings
Indicates a limit or a final occurrence. It emphasizes that a state or action is restricted to a specific instance or quantity.
Final occurrence
Something happened once and has not happened since.
“{最後|さいご}に{話した|はなした}きりです。”
“{一度|いちど}きりしか{行かなかった|いかなかった}。”
Limited quantity
Only this much/this many exists.
“{二人|ふたり}きりで{話したい|はなしたい}。”
“{これ|これ}きりです。”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Noun + きり
|
{これ|これ}きり
|
|
Negative
|
Verb-ta + きり + negative
|
{会った|あった}きり{会わない|あわない}
|
|
Past
|
Verb-ta + きり
|
{言った|いった}きり
|
|
Noun
|
Noun + きり
|
{二人|ふたり}きり
|
Formality Spectrum
{彼|かれ}に{一度|いちど}お{会|あ}いしたきりです。 (Talking about an old acquaintance.)
{彼|かれ}に{会った|あった}きりです。 (Talking about an old acquaintance.)
{彼|かれ}に{会った|あった}きり。 (Talking about an old acquaintance.)
{彼|かれ}と{会った|あった}きり。 (Talking about an old acquaintance.)
The Boundary of Kiri
Quantity
- {これ|これ}きり Only this
Time
- {今日|きょう}きり Only today
Action
- {会った|あった}きり Met once
Examples by Level
{これ|これ}きりです。
This is all there is.
{一人|ひとり}きり。
All alone.
{今日|きょう}きり。
Only today.
{水|みず}きり。
Only water.
{会った|あった}きりです。
We met once and that was it.
{見た|みた}きり。
I saw it once and never again.
{二人|ふたり}きりです。
Just the two of us.
{読んだ|よんだ}きり。
I read it once and that's it.
{彼|かれ}と{別れた|わかれた}きり、{連絡|れんらく}がない。
Ever since we broke up, there has been no contact.
{最後|さいご}に{話した|はなした}きりだ。
That was the last time we spoke.
{一度|いちど}きりの{人生|じんせい}。
Life is a one-time thing.
{朝|あさ}から{何も|なにも}食べていないきりです。
I haven't eaten anything since this morning.
{彼|かれ}の{言葉|ことば}を{聞いた|きいた}きり、{彼|かれ}は{姿|すがた}を{消した|けした}。
After hearing his words, he disappeared.
{この|この}きり、{二度と|にどと}ここには{来ない|こない}。
This is the last time; I will never come here again.
{彼女|かのじょ}は{部屋|へや}に{入った|はいった}きり、{出てこない|でてこない}。
She went into the room and hasn't come out since.
{約束|やくそく}したきり、{守られていない|まもられていない}。
It was promised, but it hasn't been kept since.
{遠い|とおい}{昔|むかし}に{会った|あった}きりの{友人|ゆうじん}。
A friend I met once long ago and never saw again.
{沈黙|ちんもく}したきり、{彼|かれ}は{何も|なにも}語らなかった。
Having fallen silent, he said nothing more.
{一言|ひとこと}きりの{返事|へんじ}。
A reply of only one word.
{最後|さいご}の{チャンス|チャンス}、これきりだ。
The last chance, this is it.
{彼|かれ}の{人生|じんせい}は、その{日|ひ}きりの{出来事|できごと}によって{変えられた|かえられた}。
His life was changed by that one event on that day.
{一度|いちど}きりの{過ち|あやまち}が、すべてを{壊した|こわした}。
A single mistake destroyed everything.
{誰|だれ}にも{会わず|あわず}、{部屋|へや}に{こもった|こもった}きりだ。
I haven't met anyone and have stayed in my room since.
{最後|さいご}の{希望|きぼう}、これきりしかない。
The last hope, there is nothing but this.
Easily Confused
Both mean 'only'.
Both mean 'only'.
Both describe states.
Common Mistakes
{食べる|たべる}きり
{食べた|たべた}きり
{りんご|りんご}がきり
{りんご|りんご}きり
{たくさん|たくさん}きり
{これ|これ}きり
{行く|いく}きり
{行った|いった}きり
{会う|あう}きり
{会った|あった}きり
{だけ|だけ}きり
{だけ|だけ} or {きり|きり}
{明日|あした}きり
{今日|きょう}きり
{話した|はなした}きり{話した|はなした}
{話した|はなした}きり{話さない|はなさない}
{彼|かれ}きり{会った|あった}
{彼|かれ}と{会った|あった}きり
{勉強|べんきょう}きり
{勉強|べんきょう}したきり
{来る|くる}きり
{来た|きた}きり
{だけ|だけ}の{意味|いみ}で{使う|つかう}
{きり|きり}の{ニュアンス|ニュアンス}を{理解|りかい}する
{未来|みらい}に{使う|つかう}
{過去|かこ}に{使う|つかう}
{否定|ひてい}を{忘れる|わすれる}
{否定|ひてい}を{入れる|いれる}
Sentence Patterns
___きりです。
___きり、{連絡|れんらく}がない。
{最後|さいご}に___きりだ。
___きりで{話そう|はなそう}。
Real World Usage
{会った|あった}きりだね。
{今日|きょう}きり！
{一度|いちど}きりの{経験|けいけん}です。
{これ|これ}きりです。
{最後|さいご}の{一つ|ひとつ}きりです。
{最後|さいご}の{挨拶|あいさつ}きり。
Check the Tense
Don't Overuse
Emotional Nuance
Polite Usage
Smart Tips
Use Kiri to add emotional weight.
Use Hitori-kiri.
Use 'Kore-kiri'.
Use 'atta-kiri'.
Pronunciation
Pitch Accent
Kiri is usually flat, but emphasize the 'ki' for clarity.
Finality
Kiri ↓
Falling intonation shows the end of the thought.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'key' (kiri sounds like key) that locks a door shut—once it's locked, nothing else can enter or leave.
Visual Association
Imagine a single candle in a dark room. The light is 'kiri'—it's the only thing there, and it's the final light before the room goes pitch black.
Rhyme
Kiri is the end, the final trend, nothing more to send.
Story
Ken met his pen pal once. He said, 'I met her once (atta-kiri).' Now he waits by the phone, but it never rings. He is all alone (hitori-kiri).
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences about things you have done only once in your life using the ~kiri pattern.
Cultural Notes
Used to express a sense of 'fate' or 'finality' in relationships.
Often replaced by other particles, but 'kiri' is understood.
Used to politely inform customers that stock is limited.
Derived from the verb {切る|きる} (to cut). It literally means 'the cut' or 'the limit'.
Conversation Starters
{最後|さいご}に{旅行|りょこう}に{行った|いった}のはいつですか？
{二人|ふたり}きりで{話したい|はなしたい}ことはありますか？
{最近|さいきん}、{新しい|あたらしい}ことはしましたか？
{最後|さいご}に{映画|えいが}を{見た|みた}のはいつですか？
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
{彼|かれ}に{会った|あった}___、{連絡|れんらく}がない。
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
{りんご|りんご}がきりです。
{一人|ひとり}だけです。
Kiri can be used with future tense.
A: {最後|さいご}に{見た|みた}のはいつ？ B: {昨日|きのう}___。
{会った|あった} / {きり|きり} / {彼|かれ} / {に}
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises{彼|かれ}に{会った|あった}___、{連絡|れんらく}がない。
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
{りんご|りんご}がきりです。
{一人|ひとり}だけです。
Kiri can be used with future tense.
A: {最後|さいご}に{見た|みた}のはいつ？ B: {昨日|きのう}___。
{会った|あった} / {きり|きり} / {彼|かれ} / {に}
{二人|ふたり}きり
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises今朝コーヒーを一杯飲んだ＿＿、何も食べていない。
に / 返ってこない / 貸した / 本を / きり / 彼
He went out this morning and hasn't been in contact since.
Choose the most nuanced sentence.
その映画は子供のころに見てきり、内容を覚えていない。
彼は「すぐ戻る」と言った＿＿、三時間も経っている。
Match the pairs.
Translate 'bedridden'.
去年日本へ行ったから、それきりです。
彼は__行ったきり、帰ってこない。
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
No, Kiri is for past or current states.
It can be both formal and informal depending on the context.
Dake is for quantity; Kiri is for finality.
No, Kiri acts as the particle.
Yes, it's very common to emphasize the 'nothing else' aspect.
Yes, especially in retail.
No, it's usually for small or restricted amounts.
No, it's a particle derived from a verb.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
solo / solamente
Kiri implies a state of being finished, whereas 'solo' is purely quantitative.
ne... que
Kiri is more emotive and descriptive of a final state.
nur / einzig
Kiri is a particle, not an adverb.
dake
Kiri is for finality; Dake is for quantity.
faqat
Kiri is attached to the word, whereas 'faqat' is usually at the end.
zhi
Kiri requires past tense for verbs.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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Uncontrollable Feelings: ~てならない (~te naranai)
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