Japanese grammar · ≈ JLPT N2 · Intermediate 3
〜（っ）きり／〜（っ）きりだ~ta kiri
unchanged since then
Use 「〜たきり」 for a state that has continued unchanged since an action or event.
How it works
It stopped and still does not work now. 「きり」 shows that the state has stayed unchanged since then.
Use 「きり」 to stress that a device has stayed out of action since a problem occurred.
Attach it to the verb’s た form: 止まった＋きり. The preceding action marks the start of the continuing state.
At the end of a sentence, 「止まったきりだ／です」 means it has remained stopped ever since.
In conversation, people also say 「止まったっきり」. The extra 「っ」 does not change the meaning here.
In the printer example, the last action was stopping. 「動きません」 explains that it has not resumed working since then.
In the repair example, there has been no contact since it was sent for repair. This sentence does not tell us whether the repair is finished.
Example sentences
- プリンターpurintaaがga途中tochuuでde止まったtomattaきり、kiri、何nanをo押しoshiてteもmo
In a conversation
Check yourself
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
The printer stopped partway through, and no matter what I press, it won't move.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
プリンターが途中で止まった____、何を押しても動きません。
The printer stopped halfway and won't move no matter what I press.
More grammar in this theme
- 〜（っ）きり／〜（っ）きりだunchanged since then