Japanese word

ビリ

Pronunciation

Romajibiri

Meaning

  • nounlast

Example

私はかけっこでビリでした。watashi wa ka ke kko de bi ri de shi ta

I came in last in the race.

Illustration for ビリ (last)

More examples

順位表を見ると、私たちの組はビリでした。jun i hyō o mi ru to watashi ta chi no kumi wa bi ri de shi ta

According to the rankings, our group was last.

Core concept

Describes being at the very bottom of a ranking or finishing after everyone else.

Common phrases

  • ビリを免れるbi ri o manuga re ru

    avoid coming in last

  • ビリ争いbi ri araso i

    battle for last place

Similar words

最下位saikai: The lowest rank in an ordered group or competition.
どん尻donshiri: The position at the very bottom of a ranking, described in blunt and casual terms.

Definition in Japanese

競争や成績などで、順位が最も下であること。kyō sō ya sei seki na do de jun i ga motto mo shita de a ru ko to

Word origin

The form ビリ (biri) is a colloquial Japanese noun, and its origin is not firmly established; it is used for the lowest rank or last place.

Usage tips

  • Unlike the neutral English word last, ビリ (biri) is informal and can sound blunt when it describes another person's performance.

Other meanings

  • bottomnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word