JLPT N2・N4 Grammar – The difference between “〜まま” and “〜きり”
Table of Contents
1. The gifference between “〜まま” and “〜きり”
2. AままB
3. AきりB
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comments
Q: What is the difference between “〜まま” and “〜きり”?
A: Both “〜まま” and “〜きり” express that a certain state continues without changing.
However, their usage and nuance are different.
Let’s look at each one in detail.
AままB (JLPT N4)
[Meaning]
After the state or action in A is completed, B is done without changing that state
[Rules]
[V] Verb past form／negative form + まま
[A] い adjective + まま
[Na] な adjective + まま
[N] Noun + の + まま
[Examples]
めがねをかけたまま寝てしまいました。
I fell asleep with my glasses on.
何も変わらないまま時間だけが過ぎました。
Time passed without anything changing.
このかばんに冷たいものを入れると、何時間も冷たいままです。
If you put cold items in this bag, they will stay cold for hours.
この場所は、何年経ってもきれいなままです。
This place remains beautiful even after many years.
日本の卵は生のまま食べられます。
Eggs in Japan can be eaten raw.
If you want to learn the difference
between ”〜まま” and “〜っぱなし”,
please read this article.
AきりB (JLPT N2)
[Meaning]
After the action in A has finished, the expected next action or change has not occurred, and that state continues
[Rules]
[V] Verb past form + きり (〜ない)
[Examples]
祖母は出かけたきり、なかなか帰って来ません。
My grandmother went out and hasn’t come back yet.
社長とは入社の日に一度話したきり、話していません。
I talked to the president once on my first day of joining the company and haven’t talked to him since.
山田さんとは結婚式で会ったきり、ずっと会っていません。
I haven’t seen Mr. Yamada since we met at the wedding.
海外旅行は3年前に行ったきりです。
I haven’t been abroad since my trip three years ago.
Let’s Compare
Both “〜まま” and “〜きり” express that something continues in a certain state.
However, their meanings are different, so they generally cannot be used interchangeably.
Let’s look at the differences in a little more detail.
[ＡままＢ]
“AままB” is used when B is done without changing a state that would normally be changed.
[Examples]
電気をつけたまま出かけてしまいました。
I went out leaving the lights on.
⇒ Normally, you would turn off the lights before going out.
However, I went out while the lights were still on.
服を着たまま海に飛び込みました。
I jumped into the sea with my clothes on.
⇒ Normally, you would take off your clothes or change into a swimsuit before going into the sea.
However, I went into the sea while still wearing my clothes.
この建物は昔の姿のまま残っています。
This building remains as it was in the past.
⇒ Normally, as time passes, buildings are renovated or their appearance changes.
However, this building remains in its original form.
[ＡきりＢ]
“AきりB” is used when, after doing A, something that would normally be expected to happen does not happen, and that state continues.
For this reason, it often means “has not done something since then” or “has not done something after that.”
[Examples]
祖母が朝、出かけたきり、なかなか帰って来ないので心配です。
I’m worried because my grandmother went out in the morning and hasn’t come back yet.
⇒ After going out, she would normally be expected to come back.
However, the state of her not coming back has continued.
姉は10年前に海外に行ったきり、そのままそこに住んでいます。
My sister went abroad ten years ago and has been living there ever since.
⇒ After going abroad, I thought she would come back.
However, she has continued living abroad.
彼女とは一度会ったきり、二度と会っていません。
I met her once and haven’t seen her since.
⇒ After meeting her once, I have not had another opportunity to see her.
Common Expressions with “きり”
“きり” is also commonly used in the following expressions.
• 寝た ＋ きり → 寝たきり
• 出て行った ＋ きり → 出て行ったきり
• 連絡した ＋ きり → 連絡したきり
[Examples]
祖父はけがをしてから寝たきりの生活が続いています。
My grandfather has been bedridden since he got injured.
⇒ This means that he has difficulty getting up, and the state of being in bed has continued for a long time.
兄は就職して家を出て行ったきり、なかなか帰って来ません。
My older brother left home after getting a job and hasn’t come back much since.
⇒ This means that after leaving home, the state of not coming back has continued.
友達に一度連絡したきり、返事がありません。
I contacted my friend once, but I haven’t received a reply since.
⇒ This means that after contacting the friend, the state of not receiving a reply has continued.
Summary
[ＡままＢ]
- This expression is used when a second action happens while an action or change that is normally expected, or an action or change that should happen, has not taken place.
- When a sentence follows “Aまま,” it means that another action is done while remaining in that state.
[ＡきりＢ]
- This expression indicates that after a certain state or action has been completed, something unexpected happens, and that situation continues.
- It is often followed by a negative sentence.
Quiz
Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. まま
この町は昔から電車があまり来なくて不便なままです。
This town has remained inconvenient since the old days because trains rarely come.
*The speaker feels that the town should have become more convenient by now. However, the inconvenient state has continued without changing, so “まま” is appropriate.
A. まま
どうぞ、くつは履いたまま上がってください。
Please come in with your shoes on.
*In Japan, it is common to take off your shoes when entering a house. Here, the sentence means that the person should come in without changing the state of wearing shoes, so “まま” is correct.
A. きり
弟とけんかしたきり話さなくなってしまいました。
I had a fight with my younger brother and haven’t talked to him since.
*After having a fight, there would normally be another chance to talk. However, the state of not talking has continued. Since it means “have not done something since then,” “きり” is appropriate.
A. きり
毎月寝たきりの祖父のお見舞いに行っています。
I visit my bedridden grandfather every month.
*“寝たきり” is a fixed expression that means someone cannot get up and has remained in bed for a long time. Therefore, “きり” is correct.
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