Japanese word

最後

Pronunciation

Romajisaigo

Meaning

  • nounend

Example

これが最後です。ko re ga sai go de su

This is the end.

Illustration for 最後 (end)

More examples

映画の最後がおもしろいです。ei ga no sai go ga o mo shi ro i de su

The end of the movie is interesting.

授業の最後に、宿題を確認します。ju gyō no sai go ni shuku dai o kaku nin shi ma su

At the end of the class, we review the homework.

Core concept

Identifies either the finishing point of an event or the item that comes after all others.

Common phrases

  • 最後にsai go ni

    at the end

  • 最後までsai go ma de

    until the end

Similar words

終わりowari: The point at which an event, activity, or period ends.
終了shūryō: The completion of an event, activity, or period.
終点shūten: The final point of a route, trip, or line.

Definition in Japanese

ある物事が終わる時点。また、並びの中で最も後に位置すること。a ru mono goto ga o wa ru ji ten ma ta nara bi no naka de motto mo ato ni i chi su ru ko to

Word origin

最後 (saigo) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 最 (sai, "most") and 後 (go, "after"), referring to what comes after everything else.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 最後に (saigo ni) often introduces the final point in a sequence rather than the end of an event.

Other meanings

  • lastnoun
  • conclusionnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word