KIKKA-RI きっかり
Meanings
Describes a time, amount, or quantity that is exact, with no excess, shortage, or fractional remainder.
Examples
The divorce mediation began at exactly 10:00.
離婚調停は１０時きっかりにスタートした。
“How much was the bill?” “Exactly 10,000 yen.”
会計はいくらだった？きっかり1万円です。
Dogmatic Opinion
The difference among KIKKA-RI, KICCHI-RI, and PITTA-RI is subtle.
“KICCHI-RI at 10:00” can suggest that 10:00 was the scheduled time and the event started punctually as required. “KICCHI-RI 10,000 yen” can suggest a strict or exact fulfillment of an amount—for example, paying the full listed price without even a one-yen discount. KICCHI-RI often carries a sense of strictness, order, or proper fulfillment.
“PITTA-RI at 10:00” focuses more on two things matching: the start coincides exactly with the instant the clock reaches 10:00. “PITTA-RI 10,000 yen” might mean that the total happened to match the 10,000-yen budget you had prepared. PITTA-RI emphasizes fit or coincidence.
“KIKKA-RI at 10:00” focuses on the objective fact that it was exactly 10:00—not 9:59 or 10:01. “KIKKA-RI 10,000 yen” means 10,000 yen exactly—not 9,999 or 10,001, with no odd amount left over.
So KIKKA-RI is especially at home with exact points in time and round, exact quantities.
Proximate Expression
exactly
just
Related Words
For Japanese Learners
Exactly and precisely are the safest general translations. With clock times, English can also use sharp: “3時きっかり” = “exactly at three” or “three o’clock sharp.” “1000円きっかり” = “exactly 1,000 yen.” The important nuance is exactness itself, especially the absence of any remainder or deviation.
