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Rōmaji
keri o tsukeru
Type
idiom
Literal Meaning
to put keri
Meaning
to finalise; to bring (something) to an end; settle; to clinch (a game/deal)”
Synonym
終わらせる, 決着をつける
Additional Info
In old Japanese, けり denotes the past or present perfect form of “be”. Therefore, “けりをつける” figuratively means “put something to an end”. In particular, it is often used when one settles a long-lasting issue/problem.
Below is the opening line of 竹取物語 (たけとりものがたり, “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter”), one of the most famous Japanese tales written in old Japanese:
今(いま)は昔(むかし)、竹取(たけとり)の翁(おきな)といふ者(もの)ありけり
Once upon a time, there was a man called Taketorino Okina.
Example
今月でこの仕事にけりをつけたい。
I want to finalise/complete this work by this month.
