Verb たが最後

When to use

Very formal, literary - "once X happens, there's no going back"; emphasizes irreversibility, not just timing.

Explanation

The 〜たが最後 grammar point indicates that once an action is taken or event occurs, some (often irreversible) consequence follows. In English, it can be translated as 'once', 'as soon as', or 'the moment that...'.

• 彼かれが一度いちど怒おこったが最後さいご、誰だれも彼かれを止とめることはできません。

  Once he gets angry, no one can stop him.

  Kare ga ichido okotta ga saigo, dare mo kare o tomeru koto wa dekimasen.

• このゲームを始はじめたが最後さいご、一晩中ひとばんじゅうやり続つづけた。

  As soon as I started this game, I played it all night.

  Kono gēmu o hajimeta ga saigo, hitobanjū yari tsuzuketa.

• 彼女かのじょが部屋へやを出たが最後さいご、二度にどと戻もどってこなかった。

  The moment she left the room, she never came back.

  Kanojo ga heya o deta ga saigo, nido to modotte konakatta.

• 私わたしがその橋はしを渡わたったが最後さいご、それが最後さいごの別わかれだった。

  Once I crossed that bridge, it was our final goodbye.

  Watashi ga sono hashi o watatta ga saigo, sore ga saigo no wakare datta.

As Soon As (The Moment That)

• ～か～ないかのうちに〜ka〜naika no uchi niN2Expresses an action that occurs immediately after another…
• ～たかと思ったら〜ta ka to omottaraN2Express a sequence of events happening in quick…
• ～たとたん〜ta totanN3Express the moment something happens; 'as soon as', 'the…
• ～次第〜shidaiN2Expresses 'as soon as' (when used with Verb-ますstem) or…
• Verbる なりVerb-ru nariN1Expresses 'as soon as' or 'the moment'.
• Verbる や否やVerb-ru ya ina yaN1Expresses the idea of 'as soon as', 'the moment...'.
• Verb たら最後〜tara saigoN1Expresses that once a certain action happens, the…
• Verb そばから〜soba karaN1Expresses that as soon as one action finishes, another…
• Verbる が早いかverb-ru ga hayai kaN1Expresses 'as soon as...' or 'the moment when...'.

Compare when to use each