Translation guide
This English phrase refers to the final moments of a person's life. Japanese has several expressions that convey this idea, each with different nuances, formality, and emotional weight. The most common and versatile is 最期 (さいご), but other options like 臨終 (りんじゅう) and 末期 (まつご) are used in specific contexts.
Expressing the time just before death, often with emotional or narrative weight.
The most common and versatile word for 'one's last moments'. It can be used in both spoken and written Japanese, and carries a sense of finality. Often used in phrases like 最期を迎える (to meet one's end) or 最期の瞬間 (the final moment).
彼は家族に見守られながら最期を迎えた。
He met his end surrounded by his family.
最期の瞬間まで意識ははっきりしていた。
He remained conscious until his last moments.
A more formal or literary term for the moment of death, often used in historical or solemn contexts. It emphasizes the exact point of passing.
Refers to the final moments or the last stage of life, often with a poetic or Buddhist nuance. Commonly used in the phrase 末期の水 (water of the last moment, a ritual moistening of the lips of the dying).
末期の水を取る。
To give the water of the last moment (to a dying person).
Literally 'the verge of death', this phrase is more direct and can be used in both emotional and matter-of-fact contexts. It emphasizes the moment just before death.
A straightforward phrase meaning 'the final moment'. It is neutral and can be used in various contexts, though it may sound slightly less idiomatic than 最期.
最後の瞬間まで彼は笑顔を絶やさなかった。
He never lost his smile until his last moments.
最期 (さいご) specifically means 'one's last moments (of life)', while 最後 (さいご) simply means 'last' or 'end' in a general sense. Using 最後 to refer to death can be ambiguous; 最期 is preferred when the context is clearly about dying.
彼の最期は安らかだった。
His last moments were peaceful.
映画の最後は感動的だった。
The end of the movie was moving.
臨終の床に家族が集まった。
The family gathered at his deathbed.
死に際に彼は何と言ったのか。
What did he say in his last moments?