Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
After all, in the end, ultimately.
🎯 Primary Function
To indicate the final result or conclusion of a process, discussion, or period of time.
📋 Grammar Structure
結局 + [Verb/Clause]
結局 + [い-Adjective]
結局 + [な-Adjective] + だ/です
結局 + [Negative Verb/Adjective]
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Commonly used in business or academic settings to summarize reports or findings.
Informal Situations
Frequently used in daily conversation to describe outcomes of personal choices or events.
Written Language
Used in essays, news articles, and stories to conclude a narrative or argument.
Spoken Language
Often appears at the beginning of a sentence to pivot to the final result.
💡 Common Applications
Describing an unexpected result
Used when the final outcome differs from the expectations or the effort put in.
Example: 色々準備したが、結局使わなかった。
Summarizing a conclusion
Used to state a final realization or summary after considering various factors.
Example: 結局、健康が一番大切だ。
Expressing futility
Often used to express that despite efforts, the result was negative or non-existent.
Example: 努力したが、結局無駄だった。
Frequency
Very High
Difficulty
JLPT N3
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
色々迷ったが、結局これを買った。
Furigana: 色々（いろいろ）迷（まよ）ったが、結局（けっきょく）これを買（か）った。
Romaji: Iroiro mayotta ga, kekkyoku kore o katta.
English: I was lost in thought for a while, but in the end, I bought this one.
Example #2
話し合ったが、結局結論は出なかった。
Furigana: 話（はな）し合（あ）ったが、結局（けっきょく）結論（けつろん）は出（で）なかった。
Romaji: Hanashiatta ga, kekkyoku ketsuron wa denakatta.
English: We discussed it, but in the end, no conclusion was reached.
Example #3
雨が降ったので、結局旅行は中止になった。
Furigana: 雨（あめ）が降（ふ）ったので、結局（けっきょく）旅行（りょこう）は中止（ちゅうし）になった。
Romaji: Ame ga futta node, kekkyoku ryokou wa chuushi ni natta.
English: Because it rained, the trip was ultimately cancelled.
Example #4
色々頑張ったけれど、結局失敗してしまった。
Furigana: 色々（いろいろ）頑張（がんば）ったけれど、結局（けっきょく）失敗（しっぱい）してしまった。
Romaji: Iroiro ganbatta keredo, kekkyoku shippai shite shimatta.
English: I tried my best in many ways, but in the end, I failed.
Example #5
結局、彼が一番正しかった。
Furigana: 結局（けっきょく）、彼（かれ）が一番（いちばん）正（ただ）しかった。
Romaji: Kekkyoku, kare ga ichiban tadashikatta.
English: After all, he was the one who was right.
Example #6
会議は長引いたが、結局何も決まらなかった。
Furigana: 会議（かいぎ）は長引（ながび）いたが、結局（けっきょく）何（なに）も決（き）まらなかった。
Romaji: Kaigi wa nagabiita ga, kekkyoku nani mo kimaranakatta.
English: The meeting dragged on, but in the end, nothing was decided.
Example #7
安い物を買ったが、結局すぐに壊れてしまった。
Furigana: 安（やす）い物（もの）を買（か）ったが、結局（けっきょく）すぐに壊（こわ）れてしまった。
Romaji: Yasui mono o katta ga, kekkyoku sugu ni kowarete shimatta.
English: I bought something cheap, but it ended up breaking immediately.
Example #8
一生懸命勉強したが、結局合格できなかった。
Furigana: 一生懸命（いっしょうけんめい）勉強（べんきょう）したが、結局（けっきょく）合格（ごうかく）できなかった。
Romaji: Isshoukenmei benkyou shita ga, kekkyoku goukaku dekinakatta.
English: I studied very hard, but in the end, I couldn’t pass the exam.
Example #9
どちらにしようか迷ったが、結局行かないことにした。
Furigana: どちらにしようか迷（まよ）ったが、結局（けっきょく）行（い）かないことにした。
Romaji: Dochira ni shiyou ka mayotta ga, kekkyoku ikanai koto ni shita.
English: I was unsure which one to choose, but I finally decided not to go.
Example #10
結局のところ、何が言いたいのですか？
Furigana: 結局（けっきょく）のところ、何（なに）が言（い）いたいのですか？
Romaji: Kekkyoku no tokoro, nani ga iitai no desu ka?
English: At the end of the day, what is it that you really want to say?
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Implies a process preceded the result
It implies a process of uncertainty or multiple options preceding the final decision.
Example: 色々迷って、結局やめた。
Set phrase: 結局のところ
The phrase ‘kekkyoku no tokoro’ is a common set phrase meaning ‘when it comes down to it’ or ‘at the end of the day.’
Example: 結局のところ、お金が問題だ。
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ 結局合格した。 (meaning ‘I finally passed’ with joy)
✅ やっと合格した。 (Finally passed!)
‘Kekkyoku’ is neutral and focuses on the result itself, whereas ‘Yatto’ implies a positive result achieved after great effort.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral. Suitable for both formal and informal speech.
Social Situations: Used when explaining results to others or reflecting on one’s own decisions.
Regional Variations: None significant; used universally in Japan.
🔍 Subtle Differences
結局 vs とうとう
‘Kekkyoku’ focuses on the logical end result, while ‘Toutou’ emphasizes the passage of time leading to a final (often negative) outcome.
When to use: Use ‘Kekkyoku’ for summaries and ‘Toutou’ for dramatic endings.
結局 vs ついに
‘Tsuini’ usually describes a long-awaited or significant event, whereas ‘Kekkyoku’ can describe even mundane or minor outcomes.
When to use: Use ‘Tsuini’ for grand achievements or major changes.
📝 Conjugation Notes
Kekkyoku is an adverb and does not conjugate, but it can be followed by ‘no’ to modify nouns (e.g., 結局のところ).
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Ensure the double ‘k’ (small tsu) is pronounced with a distinct glottal stop: ke-k-kyo-ku.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of the kanji: 結 (tie/bind) and 局 (situation). It means ‘binding the situation’ together into a final result.
Other Grammar
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