切りがいい

• Reading: きりがいい
• Romaji: kirigaii
• Kanji breakdown: 切 (ki/setsu) — cut, break
• Pronunciation: /ki.ɾi.ɡa.iː/

Meaning

A good place to stop; a convenient breaking point. Describes a natural stopping point in work or conversation.

An i-adjective expression used when reaching a natural pause or neat stopping point. 切り (kiri) means a cut or break, so 切りがいい means the break falls at a convenient spot. Commonly heard in offices (切りがいいところで休憩しよう — let's take a break at a good stopping point) and when wrapping up tasks.

Examples

1. 切りがいいところで今日の作業を終わりにしよう。 Let's wrap up today's work at a good stopping point.
2. 話が切りがいいタイミングで電話が鳴った。 The phone rang just as the conversation reached a natural break.
3. 切りがいい数字に合わせて予算を調整した。 I adjusted the budget to land on a round number.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, daily life, conversation, planning

Tone: practical

Origin & History

From 切り (kiri, a cut/break/division) + が + いい (ii, good). A 'good cut' — a place where division or stopping feels natural and clean, without leaving things awkwardly unfinished.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal