あげく
🃏 Flashcard
あげく
ageku
Tap to reveal usage
to end up; in the end; finally; after all
N2
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📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N2
Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage
Reading
ageku
Post ID
50995
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
to end up; in the end; finally; after all
📖 How to use it
Ends up happening after a long process or effort, often with a negative outcome.
Attaches to
Attach to the past tense of a verb (e.g., 考えたあげく) or to a noun followed by の (e.g., 努力のあげく).
あげく expresses that after a long period of doing something or after much effort, a final result occurs. It often carries a sense of frustration or disappointment, but can be neutral. It is usually used with past tense verbs, indicating that the process is completed. For example, 迷ったあげく means 'after hesitating, in the end'. This pattern is common in written Japanese and formal speech, but less so in casual conversation. In casual talk, you might hear 結局 instead. Note that the result is often negative or undesirable, but not always.
さんざん迷ったあげく、その仕事を断ることにした。
Sanzan mayotta ageku, sono shigoto o kotowaru koto ni shita.
After hesitating a lot, I ended up deciding to turn down the job.
長い議論のあげく、何も決まらなかった。
Nagai giron no ageku, nani mo kimaranakatta.
After a long discussion, nothing was decided in the end.
徹夜で勉強したあげく、試験に落ちてしまった。
Tetsuya de benkyou shita ageku, shiken ni ochite shimatta.
After studying all night, I ended up failing the exam.
Not 末に (sue ni)
Both mean 'after' and are used with past tense verbs, but あげく often implies a negative or undesirable result, while 末に is neutral or even positive. Also, 末に is more formal and often used with efforts leading to a positive outcome.
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Somewhat formal and mostly used in writing or careful speech; in casual conversation, 結局 is more natural.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
あげく
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat あげく three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using あげく. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N2 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern あげく mean?
▼
To end up; in the end; finally; after all
What JLPT level is あげく?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use あげく in a sentence?
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Attach あげく (ageku) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is あげく formal or casual Japanese?
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あげく is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember あげく long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.