What it means
きり means “only” or “just” when it follows a noun, emphasizing that there is no one or nothing else. It is common in expressions such as 一人きり, meaning “all alone.” After a verb in the past form, きり can mean that an action happened and has not been followed by the expected continuation, often translated as “ever since” or “and has not.” The surrounding predicate changes for politeness, but きり itself does not change.
Usage note
Do not confuse the past-form pattern verb + きり with a simple “only” meaning. In a sentence such as 出たきり戻ってこない, きり highlights that the person left and still has not returned.
How to use it
私は今日一人きりです。
I am all alone today.
彼は朝家を出たきり、まだ戻ってきません。
He left home in the morning and still has not returned.
私は今日一人きりだ。
I am all alone today.
彼は朝家を出たきり、まだ戻ってこない。
He left home in the morning and still has not returned.
Example sentences
休日は家族と離れて、一人きりで静かに本を読んだ。
On my day off, I read a book quietly all alone, away from my family.
会議室に残ったのは、部長と私の二人きりだった。
The only people left in the meeting room were my manager and me.
父は朝に出かけたきり、まだ帰ってきません。
My father went out in the morning and still has not come home.