Japanese grammar
What does ～あげく mean? Japanese grammar N2
～あげく means in the end (after much trouble/hesitation) ended up with an unfortunate result.
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N2 |
|---|---|
| Structure | Vた + あげく Nの + あげく |
| Romaji | ageku |
| Meaning | in the end (after much trouble/hesitation) ended up with an unfortunate result |
Forming it
| Noun | けんか + の + あげく |
|---|---|
| Verb | 迷った + あげく |
How to use it
States a negative or regrettable result that comes after a troublesome, hesitant, or exhausting process.
- 「～あげく」 states a RESULT (usually negative, regrettable) that comes after a long, troublesome, hesitant, or painful process: "after all that..., in the end...".
- The first clause is a difficult/negative process; the second clause is a bad or unexpected result.
- Different from 「末に」 (neutral, the result can be good): 「あげく」 almost always leads to a result that is NOT good.
Examples
さんざん迷ったあげく、何も買わなかった。
After agonizing for ages, in the end I bought nothing.
けんかをしたあげく、二人は別れた。
After many quarrels, the two of them broke up.
Keep in mind
- 「あげくの果てに」 is more emphatic.
- The following clause should not be a positive result.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong努力したあげく、合格した。
After so much effort, I finally passed.
Correct努力した末に、合格した。
「あげく」 leads to a BAD result; a good result (passing) uses 「末に」.
-
Wrong迷うあげく、決めなかった。
After hesitating so much, in the end I decided nothing.
Correct迷ったあげく、決めなかった。
「あげく」 uses the 「Vた」 form (迷った), not the dictionary form.
Exam tips
- 「あげく」 = a bad result in the end, after a troublesome process (Vた); use 「末に」 for a good result.