「きりがない」: When there seems to be no end

Surely, we've all had this feeling: your to-do list is a mile long, and the work just never ends 💻. Or when someone asks about a movie you love, you realize that if you start listing them, you'll never stop. These are the perfect moments to use the handy phrase「きりがない」(kiri ga nai).

What does "Kiri ga nai" mean? 🤔

切り (kiri) means "stopping point" or "limit." ない (nai) means "there is no."

➡️ きりがない (kiri ga nai): there is no end, to do/say/list something endlessly, infinite.

This is a super useful go-to phrase to express the endlessness of an action or a list, often accompanied by a little sigh of resignation.

The most relevant situations

1. When complaining about work or things you're not happy with 😩

This is the most common use. When you want to complain about something but know that you could talk all day and not finish.

Example: A friend asks, "How's your new boss?" You sigh and say:

「いや、文句を言い出したらきりがないよ。」 (Iya, monku wo iidashitara kiri ga nai yo.) Oh man, if I start complaining, there'd be no end to it.)

This phrase implies that there are MANY things to say, and you'd rather summarize than get bogged down in details.

2. When listing things you love ✨

Not just for negative things, きりがない is also used to talk about your endless passions.

Example: When asked, "Who's your favorite singer?"

「うーん、好きな歌手は多すぎて、挙げたらきりがないなあ。」 (Uun, suki na kashu wa oosugite, agetara kiri ga nai naa.) Hmm, I have so many favorite singers, if I started listing them, it would be endless.)

3. When giving advice or a life philosophy 🙏

This is a deeper use, to advise someone not to chase after things that are limitless.

Example: Seeing a friend who is always envious of wealthier people.

「上を見たらきりがないよ。自分なりの幸せを見つけることが大事だよ。」 (Ue wo mitara kiri ga nai yo. Jibun nari no shiawase wo mitsukeru koto ga daiji da yo.) If you always look up (comparing yourself to those better off), it's an endless pursuit. What's important is to find your own kind of happiness.)

The bottom line 💡

きりがない is a powerful tool to cut short a topic that threatens to go on forever, or to concisely express that "there's too much to say."

Next time you find yourself stuck in an endless loop, let out a sigh and say:「あ〜、きりがない！(A~, kiri ga nai!)」. You'll sound much more Japanese!