JLPT N3 grammar

〜きりmeaning and usage

Meaning

Only A (small number of something)

How to form it

  • number + counterきり
  • number + counterきりで/の
  • これ/それきり

How it is used

After a number or noun it means 'only, just' (「二人きり」, 「一度きり」). Compared with 「だけ」, it stresses that there is no more. In speech also 「っきり」.

Examples

  1. 私たちは二人切りで頑張ってきました。

    We did our best, just the two of us.

  2. こんなチャンスは一度きりかもしれない。

    A chance like this may come only once.

  3. 残っているお菓子は、これきりです。

    These are all the sweets that are left.

  4. 今の仕事は、休みが週に一日きりだ。

    In my current job, I only get one day off a week.