きり

きり means only; just; since. It is a JLPT N3 grammar pattern used to limit something to one time, one person, or a state that has continued since then.

This grammar point often appears in neutral Japanese. If you want to limit something to one time, one person, or a state that has continued since then, きり is a useful pattern to learn.

What does きり mean?

Use きり when you want to limit something to one time, one person, or a state that has continued since then.

Natural translations include:

• only; just; since
• only
• only / just / since

How to form きり

Noun + きり / Verbた-form + きり

Examples of the pattern:

• 二人きり
• 一度きり
• 会ったきり

When is きり used?

Use きり in situations like:

• being alone with someone
• one-time events
• something unchanged since a past action

Tone and register:

• neutral
• Common in JLPT reading, grammar questions, and natural Japanese sentences

きり example sentences

• 彼とは一度会ったきりです。 — I met him only once.
• 二人きりで話したい。 — I want to talk with you alone, just the two of us.
• 日本へ行ったきり、彼は帰ってこない。 — Since he went to Japan, he has not come back.
• このチャンスは一度きりだ。 — This chance comes only once.
• 寝たきりの祖母を家族で世話している。 — Our family cares for my grandmother, who is bedridden.

Nuance of きり

The key nuance is a sharp limitation or a state that remains after one point.

This matters because きり does more than translate one English phrase. It tells the reader how the speaker is framing the situation, whether as emphasis, contrast, obligation, approximation, or evidence.

For example:

• In context, it sounds natural when the surrounding sentence supports the nuance.
• Compared with だけ, it has a different focus and level of formality.

きり vs だけ

Both きり and だけ can appear in related situations, but they are different.

きり:

• means only; just; since
• fits the specific N3 pattern and nuance explained above

だけ:

• だけ simply means “only”; きり often adds finality, intimacy, or “since then” continuation

Quick contrast examples:

• Target: 彼とは一度会ったきりです。 — I met him only once.
• Compare: Try replacing it with だけ and check whether the nuance still matches.

Common mistakes with きり

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Using きり for every “only” sentence
• Forgetting that Verbた + きり often implies no change afterward
• Confusing 一人きり with 一人だけ in emotional nuance

Is きり on the JLPT?

Yes. きり is commonly taught as JLPT N3 grammar.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize it in reading
• understand its nuance in context
• use it in simple original sentences

Practice questions for きり

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

• Say you met someone only once.
• Say this is your only chance.
• Say someone left and has not returned since.

Learning path for きり

To learn きり efficiently, review the formation first, then compare it with the closest existing grammar point before writing your own sentence.

1. First, make sure you can form きり without looking at the pattern chart.
2. Next, compare it with だけ, JLPT N3 grammar lessons. These patterns are close enough that choosing between them helps you understand the nuance.
3. Finally, write sentences where the grammar point’s nuance is necessary; then check whether replacing きり with JLPT N3 grammar lessons changes the meaning.

Related grammar to review next

• だけ — because it is the closest comparison used in this article.

Learn きり with Hane

If you want to review きり together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you connect grammar, kanji, and vocabulary in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:

• All grammar lessons
• JLPT N3 grammar lessons