Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 2: 16/24

～た末(すえ)

After, As a conclusion of

Structure

Verb［た］+ すえ （に）
Noun + の + すえ （に）

Details

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About た末・の末

Appearing with verbs in their past form, or grouped with nouns after の is 末(すえ), a word meaning 'end tip'. に will follow 末(すえ) , marking the 'tip' as the point from which something will result.
While this grammar pattern is usually translated as 'after (A), (B)', or 'as a result of (A), (B)', the nuance is on various things having happened along the way, and then finally reaching the 'point' or 'conclusion' of (A).
  • 色々(いろいろ)と考(かんが)えた末(すえ)に、お父(とう)さんの会社(かいしゃ)を継(つ)ぐことに決(き)めた。
    After much thought, I decided to take over my father's company.
  • 迷(まよ)いに迷(まよ)った末(すえ)に、彼女(かのじょ)と別(わか)れることにした。
    After much hesitation, I decided to break up with her.
  • 5年(ねん)間(かん)にわたる争(あらそ)いの末(すえ)、アメリカ軍(ぐん)が撤退(てったい)を開始(かいし)した。
    After five years of conflict, the U.S. military began to withdraw.
  • 社長(しゃちょう)と長(なが)い議論(ぎろん)の末(すえ)に、人事(じんじ)の伊藤(いとう)さんをクビにすることに決(き)めた。
    After a long discussion with the president, we decided to fire Ito-san from human resources.
末(すえ)に may highlight either positive or negative results, but will suggest that some long-lasting effort or struggle eventually resulted in (B).

Examples

  • 苦難(くなん)の末(すえ)に銃(じゅう)を壁(かべ)にかけて普通(ふつう)の生活(せいかつ)を送(おく)りはじめた。

    After (much) suffering, he was able to hang up his gun and start an ordinary life.

  • 大学(だいがく)卒業(そつぎょう)後(ご)どうしようかと悩(なや)んだ末(すえ)、ベンチャー企業(きぎょう)を立(た)ち上(あ)げることにした。

    After (continuously) worrying about what to do after graduation, I decided to start a business.

  • いろいろ面接(めんせつ)した末(すえ)に、大(だい)企業(きぎょう)に雇(やと)われたんだ。

    After many interviews (repeating many times), I was hired by a big company.

  • 彼女(かのじょ)と長(なが)い議論(ぎろん)の末(すえ)に、来年(らいねん)の６月(がつ)、結婚(けっこん)することに決(き)めた。

    After a (long) discussion with my girlfriend, we have decided to get married next June.

  • 頭(あたま)が痛(いた)かったせいで眠(ねむ)れない夜(よる)を過(す)ごした末(すえ)、医者(いしゃ)に診(み)てもらおうと決(き)めた。

    After suffering through a (long) sleepless night due to a headache, I decided to see a doctor.

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