持ち上げきれずに

[eeky]

Hi,

ロンのほうは、細い脚が四本、ひょろひょろと生え、机からカップを持ち上げきれずに、二、三秒ふらふらしたかと思うと、ぐにゃりと曲がり、カップは真っ二つになった。

(They are using magic to try to make the teacups grow legs and walk around.)

What does 持ち上げきれずに mean, especially きれず?

 

[Mike Cash]

The verb suffix -kiru means to be able to do the action fully, to completion. You already know, I believe, that -zu is simply the negative form.

Would you like to share a pizza with me? 一人では食べきれない

The pizza restaurant is この坂を登りきったところだ。

See?

 

[lanthas]

You may also encounter this suffix written with a kanji: 持ち上げ切れず

 

[Toritoribe]

～ずに is almost the same as ～ないで/なくて in meaning.