Translation guide
A dead end is a street or passage that has no exit, or a situation where no further progress is possible. This guide covers both literal and figurative uses.
Describing a road, path, or corridor that does not lead anywhere.
The most common and neutral word for a dead-end street or path. Used in everyday conversation and on signs.
This road is a dead end.
Do you see the dead end sign?
Literally 'bag alley'. Refers to a dead-end street, often narrow. Slightly more literary or formal than 行き止まり, but still common.
He lives on a dead-end street.
Means 'the end of a road' or 'where a road terminates', often implying a T-junction or a wall. Can be used for dead ends, but not exclusively.
Turn right at the end of the road.
Describing a project, investigation, career, or relationship that cannot move forward.
The most common figurative term for a deadlock or impasse. Used for negotiations, research, personal situations, etc.
The negotiations reached a dead end.
Loanword from English. Used in technical or business contexts, but less natural than native terms.
A job with no opportunities for advancement.
Literally 'a job where you can't see the future'. Natural way to describe a dead-end job.
He's fed up with his dead-end job.
More explicitly 'a job with no prospect of promotion'.
行き止まり (ikidomari) is for physical dead ends (roads, corridors). 行き詰まり (ikidzumari) is for figurative dead ends (situations, negotiations). They are not interchangeable.
This road is a dead end.
The research is at a dead end.
While デッドエンド is understood, it sounds unnatural for roads. Use 行き止まり instead.
His career is at a dead end.
Also used figuratively, like 'blind alley' in English. Suggests being trapped with no way out.
The discussion reached a dead end.
This project is a dead end.
It's hard to keep working a dead-end job.