Japanese word

きり

Pronunciation

Romajikiri

Meaning

  • nounend

Example

今日はここできりにします。kyō wa ko ko de ki ri ni shi ma su

We will end here for today.

Illustration for きり (end)

More examples

話し合いが長くなったので、ここできりをつけます。hana shi a i ga naga ku na tta no de ko ko de ki ri o tsu ke ma su

Since our discussion has gone on for a long time, I will put an end to it here.

Core concept

Marks the point where an ongoing activity reaches its end.

Common phrases

  • きりをつけるki ri o tsu ke ru

    put an end to

  • きりがいいki ri ga i i

    be a good stopping point

  • きりがないki ri ga na i

    have no end

Similar words

終わりowari: The point where an activity or period finishes.
区切りkugiri: A natural stopping point that separates one stage from the next.

Definition in Japanese

物事を終える区切りとなる時点や段階。mono goto o o e ru ku gi ri to na ru ji ten ya dan kai

Word origin

きり (kiri) comes from the continuative form of 切る (kiru, "to cut"), extending the idea of cutting something off to an endpoint.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 切りがいい (kiri ga ii) describes a natural point at which to stop an activity.

Other meanings

  • stopping pointnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word