一人きりで

hitori-kiri de
adverbial phraseIntermediate alone
informal

Being by oneself without others present.

一人きりで過ごす時間が好きです。

I like spending time alone.

一人きりで旅行に行きました。

I traveled alone.

💡

Emphasizes solitude or independence. Often used in personal contexts.

Related Phrases

一人ぼっちphrase
being completely alone, isolated
独り言を言うphrase
to talk to oneself

💡Pro Tip

Emphasis on Solitude

一人きりで emphasizes being physically alone, while 一人で can sometimes imply doing something independently without necessarily being physically alone (e.g., 一人で勉強する 'study by oneself').

Gold Rule

Context Matters

Use 一人きりで when the focus is on the emotional or situational aspect of being alone, rather than just the act of doing something alone.

📖Word Origin

Combination of '一人' (hitori, 'one person') + 'きり' (kiri, contracted form of '切り' meaning 'limit' or 'only') + 'で' (de, particle indicating manner/condition). Literally means 'with only one person' or 'limited to oneself'.

📝Usage Notes

More emphatic than '一人で' (alone) and conveys a stronger sense of isolation or deliberate solitude. Often used in emotional or introspective contexts.

Word Breakdown

一人
one person
noun
+
きり
only, limited to
suffix
+
by means of, in the state of
particle
和英辞典