Meaning and Usage
"結局" (けっきょく) means "after all," "in the end," or "eventually." It is used to express the final outcome or conclusion after considering various factors or events.
Common Contexts
You often hear "結局" when summarizing a situation or decision that took some time or thought. It can imply that despite different possibilities or efforts, the final result is what matters.
Collocations and Patterns
- 結局〜になる: to end up as ~, showing the final result
- 結局どうする？: asking "So, what will you do after all?" to confirm a decision
- いろいろ考えたけど結局〜: after thinking about many things, the conclusion is ~
Register and Nuance
"結局" is neutral and common in both spoken and written Japanese. It is suitable for casual and formal contexts. It often carries a nuance of inevitability or resignation about the final outcome.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "結局" with "最後に" (さいごに), which means "at the end" in a temporal sense. "結局" focuses more on the conclusion or result rather than just the time something happens.