（っ）きり

Conjunction/Particle (usually used in conversation) (Advanced ㊤ 219)

A conjunction indicating that since something occurred, nothing has happened and the resultant situation remains unchanged; a particle indicating a strict limitation in terms of number/quantity.

Equivalent: Since; only

山下氏は1964年に日本を出た（っ）きり日本には一度も帰っていない。
Mr. Yamashita hasn't returned to Japan even once since he left in 1964.
ソウルにいるのも今夜きりです。
This is my last night (literally: the only night left) in Seoul.
彼女とは十年以上も前にパリで会ったきりで、その後どうしているのか、全然知らない。
I haven't seen her since we met in Paris more than 10 years ago and I have no idea how she's been doing since then.
小学校六年の時に別れたっきりの同級生に気づかれるなんて、ひょっとして私って小学校の時から顔が変わってないんだろうか。
My classmate, whom I hadn't seen since we left 6th grade, recognized me. I wonder if I look the same as I did in elementary school (literally: my face has not changed since my grade school days).
フロイトの本はずいぶん前に読んだっきりなので、内容のほとんどは忘れてしまいました。
It's been a long time since I read Freud's books, so I've forgotten almost all of the content.
父は雪の日に倒れて、腰の骨を折ってから、寝たきりになってしまった。
My father fell on a snowy day and broke his hip, and since then he's been lying in bed.
それっきりなの？もっとたくさんちょうだい。
Is this all (literally: only this much)? Give me more, please.
もう会うのはこれっきりにしましょう。
Let's make this the last (literally: only) time we see each other.
十年前に別れて二人はそれきりだった。
The two parted 10 years ago and have never seen each other since.
彼からはあれっきり何も連絡がないの？
You haven't heard anything from him since then?
夏休みも今日一日きりで終わっちゃうね。
Today is the last day (literally: the only day left) of summer vacation, isn't it?
私は母と二人っきりで暮らしています。
I live alone with my mother.

Formation

(i) Vinformal past(っ) きり
出た(っ) きり(帰らない) (someone has never returned) since he left home
買った(っ) きり(使わない) (someone has never used something) since he bought it
(ii) NounきりWhere Noun=noun of time
今日きりOnly today
今週きりOnly this week
今年きりOnly this year
(iii) Demonstrative Pronoun(っ) きり
これ(っ) きりOnly this much/only this time
それ(っ) きり(only that much/only that time); since then
あれ(っ) きり(only that much/only that time); since then
(iv) Number+Counter(っ) きり
二人(っ) きりOnly two (students, etc.)
三枚(っ) きりOnly three (CDs, etc.)
四本(っ) きりOnly four (pencils, etc.)

Notes