Time and sequence

～あげく(に)

in the end; after (a long, troublesome process)

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How to form it

  • Verb (た-form) + あげく(に)
  • Noun + の + あげく(に)

Register: Neutral; used for undesirable results

Explanation

Says that after a long period of effort, worry or trouble, a final result came about, usually an unwelcome one.

The ending is typically negative or disappointing. It is the 'bad' counterpart of 末に.

Examples

  1. 長い間悩んだあげく、留学をやめた。

    ながいあいだなやんだあげく、りゅうがくをやめた。

    After agonising for a long time, I gave up studying abroad.

  2. 彼は迷ったあげくに、何も買わなかった。

    かれはまよったあげくに、なにもかわなかった。

    After hesitating a long time, he bought nothing.

  3. 激しい議論のあげく、結論は出なかった。

    はげしいぎろんのあげく、けつろんはでなかった。

    After a heated discussion, no conclusion was reached.

Compare with

  • ～た末に: た末に can end positively or negatively; あげく is usually negative.

Common mistakes

  • Using it for a happy ending. It tends to be for unfortunate results.