区切り

くぎり
Alternative writings: 句切り
JLPT:N1
Frequency:
1

A pause or punctuation in speech or writing; a natural break that separates units of meaning.

Noun

Examples

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.

2

A break, end, or milestone; a stopping point or division in a task, period, or project.

Noun

Examples

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.

Word Relationships

Antonym
Derivations