1.
once only; just one time; one-off
Something that happens only once and will not be repeated. Emphasizes the singularity and finality of the occurrence.
人生は一回きりだ。
You only live once.
その店には一回きりしか行ったことがない。
I've only been to that store once.
一回きりのチャンスを逃すわけにはいかない。
I can't afford to miss this one-time chance.
一回きり emphasizes that something happens only once and will not be repeated. It conveys finality and often a sense of preciousness.
GRAMMAR:
- As adverb: 一回きりしか行ったことがない (I've only been once)
- As noun modifier: 一回きりの出会い (a once-in-a-lifetime encounter)
- As predicate: 人生は一回きりだ (you only live once)
THE SUFFIX きり:
きり means 'only' or 'limited to,' emphasizing a boundary. It attaches to quantities: 一人きり (all alone), 一度きり (only once).
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- 一度きり: only once (same meaning, slightly more formal)
- たった一回: just one time (emphasizes smallness of the number)
- 一回だけ: only once (neutral, less emphatic)