きり
From JapaneseGuide
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きり・ぎり・っきり
Meaning
The particle 「きり」, also pronounced 「ぎり」 or 「っきり」, is used to say that what comes before it is some kind of limit, or is used to state the scope in which something takes place. The particle きり originates from the word 切り, "to cut / to finish", so it's use as a particle still retains some of the meaning implied by its root word.
Uses
Attaches to any conjugation of a verb that can be used to describe a noun. It can also attach to the stem of verbs. The resulting word / phrase is treated as a noun.
Examples
- ひとりきりになる。
- Get some (time) alone. (become limited to one person)
- 田中さんと二人きりになる。
- Get alone with Tanaka-san. (With Tanaka-san, become limited to two people)
- 思いっきり泣く。
- Have a good cry. (To the limit one can think, cry)
- 閉めっきりの部屋。
- A room that remains shut. (A room limited to being shut)
- 出かけたきり戻ってこない。
- He departed, never to return. (Limited to having gone out, is not returning)
- 先月会ったきり顔を見ていない。
- Outside of meeting last month, I haven't seen her face. (Limited to meeting last month, not seeing (her) face)
- 何を聞いても黙っているきりだ。
- He keeps whatever he hears quiet. (Whatever is heard, (he) is limited to silence)
