JLPT N1・N3 Grammar – Difference between “〜つくす” and “〜きる”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “〜つくす” and “〜きる”
2. 〜つくす
3. 〜きる
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Similer Articles
7. Comment

Q: What is the difference between “〜つくす” and “〜きる”?

A: Both are auxiliary verbs that mean “to do something completely” or “to do something thoroughly,” but they differ in nuance and usage.

〜つくす(JLPT N1)

[Meaning]
To do something leaving nothing behind; to exhaust completely

[Rule]
[V] Verb stem + つくす

[Examples]
大おおきな会場かいじょうはファンで埋うめつくされました。
The large venue was completely filled with fans.

アイデアを出だしつくして何なにも思い浮おも　うかばないよ。
I’ve used up all my ideas, and nothing else comes to mind.

The basic meaning is “to leave nothing behind,” but it can be divided into two main uses.

① Expressing a state where the target is completely used up or gone
[Examples]
お腹なかが空すいていてお菓子かしを食たべつくしました。
I was so hungry that I ate up all the sweets.
⇒ The target is “the sweets,” and it means that none were left uneaten.

貯金ちょきんを使つかいつくして、もう一いち円えんも残のこっていません。
I’ve used up all my savings, and not a single yen is left.
⇒ The target is “savings.” It emphasizes that everything has been spent and nothing remains.

② When combined with verbs that express thinking, it shows carrying something out thoroughly and completely.
Commonly used verbs: 知しる(to know), 考かんがえる(to think)

[Examples]
彼かれは明治めいじの歴史れきしを知しりつくしています。
He knows the history of the Meiji era thoroughly.
⇒ This means he knows so much about the Meiji era that there is nothing he doesn’t know.

問題もんだいの解決かいけつ方法ほうほうを考かんがえつくしたが、よい答こたえは見みつかりませんでした。
I thought through all the possible solutions to the problem, but I couldn’t find a good answer.
⇒ This shows that he considered solutions thoroughly and completely, but was unable to achieve a result.

〜きる (JLPT N3)

[Meaning]
① To complete or finish something
② To do something completely (reach a 100% state)
③ To do something clearly or decisively

[Rule]
[V] Verb stem + きる

[Examples]
3200字じのレポートを一日いちにちで書かき切きりました。（①）
I finished writing a 3,200-character report in one day.

犯人はんにんに逃にげきられてしまいました。（②）
The criminal managed to get away completely.

「絶対ぜったいにやれる」と言いい切きったけど、少すこし不安ふあんです。
I declared, “I can definitely do it,” but I still feel a little uneasy.

① Expressing completion
Indicates that an action or event has been fully finished.
It is often used with “food,” “books,” or other things that have quantity, carrying the nuance of having completely achieved or consumed that amount to the very end.

[Examples]
42.195キロを走はしりきりました。
I ran the full 42.195 kilometers.

500ページの本ほんを一日いちにちで読よみ切きったよ。
I finished reading a 500-page book in one day.

インクを使つかいきったので、新あたらしいものを買かいました。
I used up all the ink, so I bought a new one.

② Doing something completely
Expresses that an action or state is carried out 100%.

[Examples]
彼かれの話はなしを信しんじきっていましたが、全すべてうそでした。
I completely believed his story, but it turned out to be all lies.
⇒ This means he believed the story 100%.

朝あさから晩ばんまで遊あそんで、疲つかれきってしまいました。
I played from morning until night and ended up totally exhausted.

今日きょうの運動うんどう会かいで全すべての力ちからを出だしきりました。
I gave all my strength at today’s sports festival.

③ To do something clearly or decisively
This usage expresses carrying out an action strongly and without hesitation.
In this case, it often combines with specific verbs to form compound verbs, such as 断ち切た　きる (to sever completely) or 言いい切きる (to state firmly).

[Commonly used verbs]
言いう → 言いい切きる (to state decisively)
思おもう → 思い切おも　きる (to make a bold decision)
断たつ → 断ち切た　きる (to sever completely)
割われる → 割り切わ　きる (to give up / to come to terms with)
振ふる → 振り切ふ　きる (to shake off completely)
見みる → 見切みきる (to give up on / to abandon)

[Examples]
好すきな仕事しごとではないけれど、生活せいかつのためと割り切わ　きって働はたらいています。
It’s not work that I enjoy, but I accept it as just for making a living and keep working.

思い切おも　きって来年らいねん、海外かいがい留学りゅうがくに挑戦ちょうせんしようと思おもいます。
I’ve decided to take the plunge and challenge myself to study abroad next year.

暗くらい過去かこを断ち切た　きって、前向まえむきに生いきています。
I’ve cut off my dark past and now live with a positive outlook.

Let’s Compare

In the following cases, both usages are correct, but the nuance is different.

[Example]
① ケーキを食たべつくしました。
② ケーキを食たべきりました。

① Expresses the action of “completely exhausting the target,” which is stronger than simple “completion” and gives a more forceful impression than “〜きる.”
② Simply indicates “completion,” meaning that the cake was eaten cleanly to the end.

Now, consider the next example:

[Example]
① 力ちからを出だしつくしました。
② 力ちからを出だしきりました。

① Carries the nuance of strong intensity, meaning that every bit of strength was thoroughly used up.
② Expresses “completion,” meaning that one’s strength was spent fully until the end.

In this way, both express “doing something to the end,” but “〜つくす” adds a sense of forcefulness and thoroughness without leaving anything behind, while “〜きる” conveys simple completion.

Summary

[〜つくす]

• ① Expresses the state of exhausting or using up the target until nothing remains.
• ② When combined with verbs like know or think, it shows doing something thoroughly and completely.
• It emphasizes the act of completely exhausting the target, giving a stronger impression than “〜きる.”

[〜きる]

• ① Indicates that an action or event has been fully completed.
• ② Expresses a state where something is “completely” or “100%” the case.
• ③ Describes carrying out an action strongly and without hesitation. In this case, it is often used with specific verbs such as say or cut off.
• Compared to “〜つくす,” it more simply conveys “completion” or “ending.”

Similer Articles

---

▼ Subscribe to Our Newsletter ▼

Receive free tips for learning Japanese!

Comment for any questions!