Japanese word

最期

Pronunciation

Romajisaigo

Meaning

  • nounlast moments

Example

家族が彼の最期を見守ります。ka zoku ga kare no sai go o mi mamo ri ma su

His family stays with him in his last moments.

Illustration for 最期 (last moments)

More examples

彼は静かに最期を迎えました。kare wa shizu ka ni sai go o muka e ma shi ta

He met his end peacefully.

Core concept

Describes the final period of a person's life as death approaches, rather than any ordinary ending.

Common phrases

  • 最期を迎えるsai go o muka e ru

    meet one's end

  • 最期を見届けるsai go o mi todo ke ru

    witness someone's final moments

  • 最期に立ち会うsai go ni ta chi a u

    be present at someone's final moments

Similar words

最後saigo: The one that comes at the end of an order, series, or process.
死に際shinigiwa: The period just before and around the time of death.
臨終rinjū: The last stage of a person's life as death approaches.
今際imawa: The end of a person's life, especially its final moment.

Definition in Japanese

死を迎えるときの最後の時期やその間際。shi o muka e ru to ki no sai go no ji ki ya so no ma giwa

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 最期 (saigo, "last moments") combines 最 (sai, "most") and 期 (ki, "period"), giving the sense of a person's final period.

Usage tips

  • Unlike 最後 (saigo, "the last or final one"), 最期 (saigo, "last moments") specifically points to the time around a person's death.

Other meanings

  • deathnoun
  • endnoun

Word lists with this word