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とどのつまり Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Freq. Frequency Top 100,000 Meanings 1
expression, adverb
in the end ; after all ; when all is said and done
usually written using kana alone
Used to sum up a situation or outcome, often with a sense of inevitability or resignation. The expression originates from the final stage name of the striped mullet (とど), implying 'the last stage' or 'the end of the line'.
See also: とど
つまり
失しっ
敗ぱい
に
終お
わっ
た
。
I tried various things, but in the end it was a failure.
Written forms Applies to each form listed below
rarely-used kanji form
とどの 詰つ まり
Rare kanji form using 詰まり; it is rarely used.
鯔とど のつまり
Rare kanji form using 鯔; it is rarely used.
Similar words 結けっ 局きょく 結局 is a more common and neutral 'after all' or 'in the end'. とどのつまり carries a stronger nuance of finality and is often used in more colloquial or emphatic contexts.
つまり つまり means 'in short' or 'that is to say', used to rephrase or conclude. とどのつまり is a set phrase meaning 'in the end' with a sense of final outcome, not used for simple rephrasing.
Etymology Derived from the names for the growth stages of the striped mullet (鯔, ぼら). The final stage is called とど, so とどのつまり literally means 'the end of the とど stage', i.e., the very end. The phrase came to mean 'in the end' or 'after all'.
