JLPT N2 Grammar
· Upper Intermediate
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· Upper Intermediate
Only; since
Category: Evaluation & State
The grammar pattern 'V-ta + きり / N + きり' is used to express the idea of 'only' or 'since' in Japanese. When used after a verb in the ta-form, it indicates that no change has occurred since that action. For example, '彼とは去年のパーティーで会った ______ だ' means 'I met him only at last year's party.' When used after a noun, it emphasizes the limit or extent of something. For instance, '母は買い物に行った ______、なかなか帰ってこない' means 'My mother has been shopping for a long time, but she hasn't come back yet.' The pattern is often used to convey a sense of emphasis or restriction.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ta-form of verb | V-ta + きり | 会った + きり = 会ったきり |
| Noun | N + きり | 買い物 + きり |
| Noun with -te form of verb | N + -te + したきり | 買い物 + -te + したきり |
彼とは去年のパーティーで会ったきりだ。
Kare to wa kyonen no paatii de atta kiri da.
I met him only at last year's party.
彼とは去年のパーティーで会った (I met him at last year's party) + きり (only)
母は買い物に行ったきり、なかなか帰ってこない。
Haha wa kaimono ni itta kiri, nakanaka kaette konaai.
My mother has been shopping for a long time, but she hasn't come back yet.
母は買い物に行った (My mother has been shopping) + きり (only)
一度きりの人生だから、後悔したくない。
Ichido kiri no jinsei dake kara, ato kaetai nai.
Since it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I don't want to regret it.
一度 (once) + きりの (only) + 人生 (life) + だから (because)
彼はこの本を読んだきり、寝ることができなかった。
Kare wa kono hon o yonda kiri, neru koto ga dekinakatta.
He couldn't sleep after reading this book.
彼はこの本を読んだ (He read this book) + きり (only)
母は買い物に行ったきり、帰ってくることができなかった。
Haha wa kaimono ni itta kiri, kaette kuru koto ga dekinakatta.
My mother couldn't come back after going shopping.
母は買い物に行った (My mother has been shopping) + きり (only)
This pattern is used to emphasize the limit or extent of something. It is often used in formal or written Japanese. In spoken Japanese, 'dake' or 'sorekara' may be used instead. The pattern can be used with both verbs and nouns.
Bakari is a different pattern that means 'only' or 'just', but it is not used in the same way as 'kiroi'.
Mama is a different pattern that means 'only' or 'just', but it is not used in the same way as 'kiroi'.
Tsuide ni is a different pattern that means 'since then' or 'after that', but it is not used in the same way as 'kiroi'.
When using this pattern in the JLPT exam, make sure to use the correct form of the verb or noun. Also, pay attention to the context and use the pattern to emphasize the limit or extent of something.
彼とは去年のパーティーで会った ______ だ。
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