Mimi Kara N2 Grammar: きり (kiri)

39. ～ きり (kiri)

Meaning 1: Only to ~ is the end, after that there are no more changes

How to use: Vた／これ、それ、あれ + きり

Example sentences:

母は朝出かけたきり、夜になっても帰ってこない。
My mother left in the morning and didn’t come back in the evening.

今日は忙しくてご飯を食べる時間もなかった。朝牛乳を飲んだきりだ。
Today is so busy, I don’t even have time to eat. I only drank milk this morning.

彼と会うのはもうこれっきりにしよう。
Let’s make this the last time we see him.

祖母は足の骨を折って入院して以来、寝たきりになってしまった。
Since being admitted to the hospital with a broken leg, my grandmother has been bedridden all the time.

Meaning 2: Only ~ (limited)

How to use: Number of words + きり

Example sentences:

父の単身赴任で、母と子二人きりの生活になった。
Because my father had to work away from home, only my mother and I lived together.

財布には1000円きりしかなかった。
In the wallet there is only 1000 yen.

今持っているお金はこれっきりです。
This is all the money I have at the moment.

Meaning 3: Do it~ all the time

Example sentences:

付きっきりで看病する。
always on the caring side.

彼はこのごろ部屋にこもり（っ）きりだ。
These days, this he keeps locking himself in his room.