Japanese word

区切り

Pronunciation

Romajikugiri

Meaning

  • nounbreak

Example

仕事に区切りがついたら、休みます。shi goto ni ku gi ri ga tsu i ta ra yasu mi ma su

I take a break when I reach a stopping point in my work.

Illustration for 区切り (break)

More examples

この作業は、ここを区切りにして休みます。ko no sa gyō wa ko ko o ku gi ri ni shi te yasu mi ma su

I will take a break here and use this as a stopping point.

Core concept

Describes 区切り (kugiri) as a point or boundary that separates one part of something from the next, including a pause in an activity.

Common phrases

  • 区切りがつくku gi ri ga tsu ku

    reach a conclusion

  • ひと区切りつくhi to ku gi ri tsu ku

    reach a stopping point

  • 区切りをつけるku gi ri o tsu ke ru

    bring to a close

Similar words

境目sakaime: A boundary where one area, period, or thing ends and another begins.
切れ目kireme: A point where a continuous process ends or is interrupted.
一段落ichidanraku: A point at which a task reaches a temporary stopping point.

Definition in Japanese

物事のまとまりを分ける境目や、作業などをいったん中断する時点。mono goto no ma to ma ri o wa ke ru sakai me ya sa gyō na do o i tta n chū dan su ru ji ten

Word origin

The noun 区切り (kugiri) is formed from the verb 区切る (kugiru), combining 区 (ku, "section") with native 切る (kiru, "cut").

Usage tips

  • English break often suggests rest or damage, but 区切り (kugiri) can also mark a boundary in writing, so its context may point to punctuation rather than a rest.

Other meanings

  • pausenoun
  • punctuationnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 区切り目kugirimedividing pointnoun
  • 区切り方kugirikataway of dividingnoun

Word lists with this word