1A pause or punctuation in speech or writing; a natural break that separates units of meaning.
会話の区切りに、深呼吸をすると落ち着きます。
Taking a deep breath at a pause in a conversation calms you down.
この文章は区切りが分かりにくくて読みづらい。
This text is hard to read because the breaks are unclear.
「えー」と「そのー」は会話の区切りに使われることが多い。
Interjections like 'um' and 'well' are often used as pauses in conversation.
2A break, end, or milestone; a stopping point or division in a task, period, or project.
プロジェクトの一区切りがついたら報告してください。
Please report once you've reached a milestone in the project.
彼と別れることで心の区切りがついた。
Breaking up with him gave me emotional closure.
年の区切りに大掃除をするのが習慣だ。
It's customary to do a big cleaning at the end of the year.