きり・っきり
kiri / kkiri
since (with no change); only; just
[Since (with no change) / Only / Nothing but]
Connection: Verb (た form) + きり / っきり
Usage 1: After a verb in た form, expresses that since that action, nothing has changed — the state continues. Often followed by a negative expression.
Usage 2: With numbers/nouns, means "only" or "just."
Examples:
彼は出かけたきり、帰ってこない。(He went out and hasn't come back since.)
あの人とは一度会ったきり、連絡がない。(I met that person once and haven't heard from them since.)
二人きりで話がしたい。(I want to talk with just the two of us.)