Japanese word

終盤

Pronunciation

Romajishūban

Meaning

  • nounfinal stage

Example

試合は終盤に入りました。shi ai wa shū ban ni hai ri ma shi ta

The game has entered its final stage.

Illustration for 終盤 (final stage)

More examples

終盤では、両チームの攻防がいっそう激しくなります。shū ban de wa ryō chī mu no kō bō ga i ssō hage shi ku na ri ma su

In the final stage, the contest between the two teams becomes even more intense.

Core concept

Points to the closing stretch of an activity, especially a contest, after most of its important developments have occurred.

Common phrases

  • 終盤に入るshū ban ni hai ru

    enter the final stage

  • 終盤を迎えるshū ban o muka e ru

    reach the final stage

  • 終盤に差し掛かるshū ban ni sa shi ka ka ru

    approach the final stage

Similar words

大詰めōzume: The last stage of an event or activity as it approaches completion.
後半kōhan: The second half of an event or period, without necessarily being its final stage.
佳境kakyō: The stage of an event when its interest or intensity reaches a high point.

Definition in Japanese

競技や物事の終わりに近い最後の局面。kyō gi ya mono goto no o wa ri ni chika i sai go no kyoku men

Word origin

終盤 (shūban) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 終 (shū, "end") and 盤 (ban, "board"), with the board-game sense extending to the final phase of any contest or process.

Usage tips

  • Chess uses endgame for the stage when few pieces remain, providing a concrete example of the broader final-stage sense.

Other meanings

  • endgamenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word