末
Meanings
Especially common for the end of a time span such as a month, year, term, or period.
I will move at the end of this month.
after; at the end of; finally after
Used in patterns such as 〜の末 and 〜した末 to mean that something happened after a process, effort, hesitation, discussion, or struggle.
After long discussions, the plan was canceled.
After thinking it over in many ways, he decided to leave the company.
Refers to the far end or tip of something. In modern everyday Japanese, 先 or 端 is often more ordinary for physical tips; this use of 末 can sound somewhat literary or set-phrase-like.
A small bud is growing at the tip of the branch.
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
youngest child; youngest sibling
Used before の, as in 末の弟 or 末の娘. The compound 末っ子 is the common standalone word for the youngest child.
See also: 末っ子
My youngest brother is still in high school.
descendants; offspring; posterity
Usually appears as 〜の末, meaning a descendant or later member of a family or lineage. It is relatively literary or historical in tone; 末裔 is often used in modern explanatory prose.
In the story, he is portrayed as a descendant of the Taira clan.
future; future prospects
Often used in evaluative expressions about how someone's or something's future may turn out, such as 末が楽しみだ or 末が案じられる.
This child has a promising future.
degenerate age; world gone bad
Most visible in fixed expressions such as 世も末だ or 世の末, used when lamenting moral decline or a world that seems hopelessly corrupt.
For scams like this to be everywhere, the world really has gone bad.
Usage patterns
- 〈時〉の末the end of a period (month, year, etc.)
I'm planning to move at the end of this month.
- 〈動詞〉た末にafter (doing something), finally
After much agonizing, he finally decided to change jobs.
- 末の〈人〉the youngest (child, daughter, son, etc.)
My youngest sister is still in elementary school.
- 〈人〉の末が案じられるto worry about someone's future prospects
One worries about the future of an old person living alone.
- 〈物〉の末the tip or far end of a long, thin object
A small flower was blooming at the tip of the branch.
Expressions
- 末頃around the end of
- 世も末the end of the world; what is this world coming to; this degenerate age
- 末の世future ages; coming generations; posterity · degenerate world; corrupt age
- 末の問題a mere trifle; a trivial matter
- 強弩の末魯縞に入る能わずeven the strong will grow weak