do completely; finish entirely

きる attaches to a verb's masu-stem to mean doing something thoroughly to the very end. 切れない means unable to finish or beyond limit. It emphasizes completion or reaching a limit.

Examples

• マラソンを最後さいごまで走はしりきった。

  Marason o saigo made hashirikitta.

  I ran the marathon all the way to the end.

• 宿題しゅくだいが多おおすぎて、やりきれない。

  Shukudai ga oosugite, yarikirenai.

  There's too much homework; I can't finish it all.

Vocabulary in these examples

• 最後 the last, end
• 走る to run
• 宿題 homework
• 多い many; much
• やる to do

Related patterns · Aspect and degree

• 〜つつある be in the process of
• 〜一方だ keep getting more and more
• 〜ぬく do all the way through (despite hardship)
• 〜気味 a touch of; -ish; tending toward
• 〜だらけ full of; covered in
• 〜っぽい -ish; tends to; looks like