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Reading a reference book to the last page: 「読みきる」 emphasizes completing the whole action.

Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N3 · Intermediate 3

〜きる・〜きれる~kiru / ~kireru

finish completely; be able to finish

「〜きる」 emphasizes completing an entire action, while 「〜きれる」 asks whether you can finish it all.

How it works

Reading a reference book to the last page: 「読みきる」 emphasizes completing the whole action.
Remove 「ます」 from the verb and add 「きる」: 読みます→読みきる.
「きれる」 is the potential form. It focuses on whether you can finish everything, given conditions such as time.
「きった」 means it has all been completed; 「きれない」 means you cannot complete it all.
In the example, he finishes the entire book before starting past exam questions. 「読んだ」 alone does not necessarily mean he read the whole book.

「走りきりました」 also emphasizes reaching the finish. Stopping halfway does not count as completing the run.

受験生じゅけんせいjukenseiは、わ、wa、最後さいごsaigoまでmadeあきらめずakiramezuにni走りはしりhashiriきりました。kirimashita。
The examinee ran to the very end without giving up.
彼かれkareはわwa参考書さんこうしょsankoushoをo一冊いちさつichisatsu読みよみyomiきっkiてteから、kara、過去問かこもんkakomonにni入りました。はいりました。hairimashita。
He read through the entire reference book before starting the past exam questions.

A
模擬もぎ試験しけんの過去問かこもんは、わ、もう全部ぜんぶ解きとききりましたか？か
A: Have you already solved all the past mock exam questions?
B
いいえ、苦手にがて分野ぶんやが多くおおくて、まだ半分はんぶんしか終わっおわっていません。
B: No, because I have many weak areas, I've only finished half of them.
A
本番ほんばんまで時間じかんはわありませんから、焦らずあせらずにできるところからやりきりましょう。
A: Since there is not much time left until the actual exam, let's complete what we can do without rushing.

Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
The examinee made it to the end without giving up.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
受験生は、最後まであきらめずに____。
The examinee kept going without giving up and ran to the very end.