～あげく

When to use

Often a negative outcome - "after all that, (unfortunately)...".

Explanation

The ～あげく grammar point is used to express the outcome or result after a series of actions or events. It can usually be translated into English as 'in the end', 'finally', or 'after'. The typical formation is adding あげく to the past form of a verb (Verb-た), or adding のあげく to a noun. This indicates that, after a long process or a number of attempts, a certain final outcome is reached - often with a sense that it took considerable effort or time.

• 長ながい時間じかん待まったあげく、電車でんしゃが来こなかった。

  After waiting a long time, in the end, the train didn't come.

  Nagai jikan matta ageku, densha ga konakatta.

• いろいろな方法ほうほうを試ためしたあげく、成功せいこうした。

  After trying various methods, I finally succeeded.

  Iroiro na hōhō o tameshita ageku, seikō shita.

• 彼かれは失敗しっぱいのあげく、会社かいしゃを辞やめる決心けっしんをした。

  In the end, after his failures, he decided to quit the company.

  Kare wa shippai no ageku, kaisha o yameru kesshin o shita.

• 彼女かのじょは長ながい間あいだ悩なやんだあげく、その仕事しごとを断ことわった。

  After worrying for a long time, she finally turned down the job.

  Kanojo wa nagai aida nayanda ageku, sono shigoto o kotowatta.

Sequence (After / As A Result)

• ～たきり〜takiriN2Express 'since then' or 'after'; used to indicate that an…
• ～上で〜ue deN2Used to express that something is done after or on the…
• ～以来〜iraiN2Indicates something happening 'since', 'ever since', or…
• ～末～sueN2Express the outcome after a period of time or series of…
• Verb てから～〜te karaN5Express a sequence of actions or events; 'after', 'since'…
• ～きり〜kiriN3Expresses the idea of 'only', 'since', or 'after'.
• Noun の あとでNoun no atodeN5Expresses the order of events; 'after', 'later than'.
• Verb た あとでta ato deN5Indicates an action that takes place after another action.
• ～てはじめて〜te hajimeteN3Realization or action done for the first time; 'only…
• Noun にして初めてNoun nishite hajimeteN1Expresses 'only when/after... for the first time'.
• Verb てからというものVerb te kara to iu monoN1Expresses that ever since a certain event happened, a…
• Verbる 始末だ〜ru shimatsu daN1Indicates a (often unfortunate) result or conclusion of an…

Compare when to use each