N2 Results, Change, and Progress

~末すえ(に): meaning, usage and examples

~末すえ(に) means: after... / at the end of...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 考かんがえた末すえに、結論けつろんを出だした。

   After much thought, I reached a conclusion.

2. 長ながい苦労くろうの末すえ、成功せいこうした。

   After long hardship, I succeeded.

3. 何なん度ども話はなし合あった末すえに、計画けいかくを変更へんこうすることにした。

   After discussing it many times, we decided to change the plan.

4. 三さん年間ねんかんの研究けんきゅうの末すえ、新あたらしい薬くすりが完成かんせいした。

   After three years of research, a new drug was completed.

When to use it

Says that a result came at the end of a long effort, discussion or period of thought. The result can be good, neutral or bad, but often it is a decision or achievement. For example, 考かんがえた末すえに、留学りゅうがくすることにした means "after giving it a lot of thought, I decided to study abroad."

Nuance

Slightly formal; common in writing, news and serious speech. It stresses that the process was long and hard. The second clause states a result, so it is not used for requests or future plans.

Compare

あげく is used when the result is bad: 待またされたあげく、中止ちゅうしになった. 末すえに is neutral and often positive: 努力どりょくの末すえに合格ごうかくした. 後あとで only gives the order of events, with no sense of a long struggle: 食たべた後あとで出でかけた.

Tip: Pair 末すえに with long-process words: 悩なやんだ, 話はなし合あった, 苦労くろう, 研究けんきゅう. Use the noun form 末すえの before a noun: 苦労くろうの末すえの成功せいこう.