GRAMMAR
〜きり ①
since
just (and nothing else)
Explanation
NOTE
〜きり means since X — used when an action happened, and no follow-up action has occurred ever since.
彼は朝出かけたきり、帰ってこない。
Since he left in the morning, he hasn't come back.
The second clause is typically negative — something expected *hasn't* happened since the first action.
NOTE
Use 〜きり to express a sense of time-immediacy and finality — the first action was the last of its kind, with no continuation.
NOTE
Attach きり to the past (た) form of a verb (出かけた → 出かけたきり).
STRUCTURE
Vた
きり先月会ったきり、彼とは連絡を取っていません。
Sengetsu atta kiri, kare to wa renraku o totte imasen.
I haven't been in touch with him since the last time we met last month.
その本は、買ったきり、まだ一度も読んでいません。
Sono hon wa, katta kiri, mada ichido mo yonde imasen.
I bought that book, and I haven't read it even once since (or: I just bought that book and haven't touched it).
朝、パンを食べたきり、今日はまだ何も食べていません。
Asa, pan o tabeta kiri, kyou wa mada nani mo tabete imasen.
I just ate some bread in the morning and haven't eaten anything since then today.
息子は部屋に入ったきり、出てこない。
Musuko wa heya ni haitta kiri, dete konai.
Since my son went into his room, he hasn't come out.
去年会ったきり、彼女とは連絡がない。
Kyonen atta kiri, kanojo to wa renraku ga nai.
Since I met her last year, I haven't heard from her.
祖父は病院に入院したきり、家に戻ってこなかった。
Sofu wa byouin ni nyuuin shita kiri, ie ni modotte konakatta.
Since my grandfather was hospitalized, he never came home.
Practice exercises
1
彼女は一度カフェに入ったきり、もう二時間も出てこない。
She just entered the cafe once, and hasn't come out for two hours now.
Answer
きり
2
子どもは朝ごはんを食べたきり、遊びに行って、まだ帰ってこない。
The child just ate breakfast, went to play, and hasn't returned yet.
Answer
きり
3
彼とは先月会ったきり、いきなり連絡が取れなくなった。
Since I just met him last month, contact suddenly became impossible.
Answer
きり
4
彼は部屋に入ったきり、いつの間にか寝ていた。
He just entered the room, and then, unnoticed, fell asleep.
Answer
きり
5
彼は私に「ありがとう」と言ったきり、私が振り向いたとたんにいなかった。
He just said "thank you" to me, and the moment I turned around, he was gone.
Answer
きり