Closing the matter
Idioms, Stage 3chunk 11 of 22Luck, trouble & outcomes
Bringing a matter to an end: settling it, declaring it done, owning it properly.
- keri o tsukerusettle it, put an end to itliterally “attach a keri (the classical verb ending that closed poems and tales)”
- ikken rakuchakucase closed, that's sortedliterally “one matter settled”
- kejime o tsukerutake proper responsibility; draw a clear lineliterally “put in a dividing line”
Mix-ups keri o tsukeru (finish it off) vs kejime o tsukeru (take responsibility, draw a line) share o tsukeru; ikken rakuchaku is said once it's done.
keri o tsukeru
polite keri o tsukemasu
“attach a keri (the classical verb ending that closed poems and tales)”
settle it, put an end to it
Said when you decide to end something for good: a feud or rivalry (aitsu to keri o tsukeru), or a relationship or job that has dragged on. It has a showdown flavour, so in everyday talk it is often half-joking. The intransitive keri ga tsuku (it got settled) exists but is much rarer.
Near-synonym: kecchaku o tsukeru (settle a contest).
sorosoro keri o tsukenai to
Time I settled this once and for all.
そろそろケリをつけないと
sorosoro keri o tsukenai to ikemasen ne
We need to settle this soon.
そろそろケリをつけないといけませんね
Written ケリをつける · けりをつけるHeard 105× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside ikken rakuchaku, kejime o tsukeru
ikken rakuchaku
polite ikken rakuchaku desu
“one matter settled”
case closed, that's sorted
In English: case closed
Said, often half-jokingly, the moment a problem or squabble gets sorted: kore de ikken rakuchaku. It echoes the magistrate's closing line in old samurai dramas but is used for small everyday fixes.
Plain alternative: kaiketsu (solved).
yoshi, kore de ikken rakuchaku da ne
Right, that's that sorted.
よし、これで一件落着だね
kore de ikken rakuchaku desu ne
That settles it, then.
これで一件落着ですね
Written 一件落着 · いっけんらくちゃくHeard 33× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside keri o tsukeru, kejime o tsukeru
kejime o tsukeru
polite kejime o tsukemasu
“put in a dividing line”
take proper responsibility; draw a clear line
Two everyday uses: owning up to a mess properly, often by apologising or resigning (kejime o tsukenai to), and keeping things clearly apart, like work and private life (koushi no kejime). In dramas it's often a demand or vow to settle accounts: ore ga kejime o tsukeru (I'll settle this myself). keri o tsukeru ends a matter; kejime is about doing it properly.
kejime o tsukero! is a rough demand (in yakuza dramas, a threat). koushi no kejime: keeping work and private life apart.
kono ken wa chanto kejime tsukenai to.
I need to take proper responsibility for this.
この件はちゃんとけじめつけないと。
kono ken wa kichinto kejime o tsukemasu.
I'll take proper responsibility for this matter.
この件はきちんとけじめをつけます。
Written けじめをつけるHeard 21× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside keri o tsukeru, ikken rakuchakuMain list kono (Stage 1), chanto (Stage 3)