切りがない【きりがない】

切りがない (きりがない) expresses the idea that something is endless, boundless, or that there is no end to it. It is used when an action or situation could continue indefinitely if left unchecked, often carrying a nuance of frustration, resignation, or a practical decision to stop.

The word きり切り (きり) here means "a cutting-off point" or "a limit," so きりがない切りがない literally means "there is no cutting-off point" – i.e., there is no natural stopping place.

Basic Usage

It is most common to describe actions, lists, or concerns that could go on forever.

Common Patterns

～たら切りがない / ～ば切りがない: "If you start doing ~, there's no end." This is by far the most frequent pattern. It conveys the idea that a particular action would go on forever if begun or continued.

～ても切りがない: "Even if you do ~, there's no end / it's pointless." This pattern adds a nuance of futility – no matter how much you do it, you'll never reach a conclusion.

Nuance

切りがない often functions as a reason to stop doing something or to accept a limitation. It implies that a practical decision must be made to draw a line, since no natural endpoint exists. It can also be used to emphasize the sheer volume or extent of something.

The more formal variant きり切りがありません is used in polite speech. The expression can also appear as きりのない when modifying a noun directly: