きり・
きり limits a noun or quantity to exactly that one member or amount. It often suggests a firm boundary: “only that,” “just once,” or “with nobody else.”
A firm limit
This pattern does more than casually narrow a choice. It presents the named person, thing, or amount as the full limit. It is especially natural in established combinations such as 一人きり, 二人きり, 一度きり, and これっきり.
People and occasions
一人きりで暮らすのは初めてです。
This is my first time living completely alone.
Analyze一人きり means that no one else is living with the speaker.
この機会は一度きりです。
This opportunity comes only once.
Analyze今夜は二人きりで話しましょう。
Let’s talk privately, just the two of us, tonight.
Analyze二人きり means that only the two people concerned will be present.
Conversational emphasis
もう一杯飲むの？
Are you having another drink?
Analyzeうん。でも、これっきりにするよ。
Yeah. But this will be the last one.
Analyzeこれっきり sets “this” as the final limit, so the natural English meaning is often “this is the last one” or “no more after this.”
Do not confuse a limited amount with a continuing state
After a noun or quantity, きり simply limits the member or count. By contrast, a past-form verb followed by きり describes a state that has continued since that completed event, often because an expected return or change has not happened.
父は朝出かけたきり、まだ帰ってこない。
My father went out this morning and still has not come back.
AnalyzeThis is the separate past-verb pattern, not noun or quantity limitation.
More examples
会場には私一人きりが残った。
I was the only person left at the venue.
Analyze二人きりで静かに話したい。
I’d like to talk quietly one-on-one.
Analyzeこの割引は今回きりです。
This discount is available this time only.
Analyze残っている席は一つきりです。
There is only one seat left.
Analyzeこんなお願いをするのは、これっきりにします。
This will be the last time I make a request like this.
Analyze彼に会えるのは、あと一度きりだ。
I will have only one more chance to see him.
Analyze