Japanese word

所詮

Pronunciation

Romajishosen

Meaning

  • adverbafter all

Example

人は所詮一人です。hito wa sho sen hito ri de su

People are alone after all.

Illustration for 所詮 (after all)

More examples

どんなに努力しても、所詮人間ですから、失敗することはあります。do n na ni do ryoku shi te mo sho sen nin gen de su ka ra ship pai su ru ko to wa a ri ma su

However hard we try, we are only human, so we sometimes fail.

Core concept

Presents a final reality as an unavoidable limit, often with a resigned sense that things cannot be changed.

Common phrases

  • 所詮人間だsho sen nin gen da

    only human after all

  • 所詮は他人sho sen wa ta nin

    strangers after all

Similar words

どうせdōse: Shows that an outcome or limit is regarded as unavoidable, often with a resigned tone.
結局kekkyoku: Presents the final result or conclusion after all factors are considered.
たかがtakaga: Shows that something is regarded as small, limited, or unimportant.

Definition in Japanese

結局のところ、それ以上にはならないというあきらめや限定の気持ちを込めて、事柄を述べる語。kek kyoku no to ko ro so re i jō ni wa na ra na i to i u a ki ra me ya gen tei no ki mo chi o ko me te koto gara o no be ru go

Word origin

所詮 (shosen) is a Sino-Japanese Buddhist term combining 所 (sho, "that which") and 詮 (sen, "explain or clarify"); its meaning later developed into the adverbial sense "after all."

Usage tips

  • In conversational Japanese, 所詮 (shosen) often adds a resigned or dismissive tone to a conclusion, making it stronger than a neutral use of "after all."

Other meanings

  • in the endadverb

Word lists with this word