JLPT N2・N3 Grammar – The difference between “〜あげく” “〜末に” and “〜結果”

Table od Contents

1. The difference between “〜あげく” “〜末すえに” and “〜結果けっか“
2. 〜あげく・〜末すえに
3. 〜結果けっか
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Similar Articles
7. Comments

Q: What is the difference between “〜あげく,” “〜末すえに,” and“〜結果けっか”?

A: All three expressions show what happened after a long process, but their nuances are different.

• 〜あげく: A bad result or an unwanted ending.
• 〜末すえに: A good result, or even a bad result that the speaker accepts.
• 〜結果けっか: Can be good or bad. A neutral, objective way to show a result without emotion.

These are the key differences.

〜あげく・〜末すえに

These two grammar patterns both show “what happened in the end after a long process.”
Both of them have the background of “many events, a long time, or a difficult situation,”
but they have clear differences in how they are used and what feelings they express.

A detailed explanation is available in the article below.

[～あげく]

[Meaning]
Expresses that a long-lasting action or state ultimately results in a disappointing outcome

[Rule]
[V] Verb たform + あげく
[N] Noun form of する verbs + あげく

[Examples]
彼かれは1時間じかんも待またせたあげく、来こないと言いってきました。
He made me wait for an hour, and in the end he said he would not come.

さんざん迷まよったあげく、何なにも買かいませんでした。
I thought about it for a long time, but in the end I did not buy anything.

このスマホはすぐ壊こわれたあげく、修理しゅうり代だいが5万まん円えんもかかりました。
This smartphone broke very quickly, and in the end it cost 50,000 yen to repair it.

[〜末すえに]

[Meaning]
Expresses the final outcome after a long process or effort

[Rules]
[V] Verb た form + 末すえ（に）
[N] Noun + の + 末すえ（に）

[Examples]
いろいろ考かんがえた末すえに、転職てんしょくすることにしました。
After thinking about many things, I decided to change my job.

努力どりょくの末すえに、JLPT N1に合格ごうかくできました。
After a lot of effort, I was able to pass the JLPT N1.

夫おっとと話はなし合あった末すえ、離婚りこんを決きめました。
After talking a lot with my husband, we decided to get a divorce.

〜結果けっか (JLPT N3)

[Meaning]
After doing 〜, the result is …

[Rule]
[V] Verb た form + 結果けっか
[N] その結果けっか、〜（can also be used at the beginning of a sentence）

[Examples]
ダイエットを続つづけた結果けっか、5kgやせました。
As a result of continuing my diet, I lost 5 kilograms.

夜更よふかしした結果けっか、朝あさ起おきられませんでした。
As a result of staying up late, I could not get up in the morning.

プロジェクトが遅おくれ、その結果けっか、納期のうきが変更へんこうされました。
The project was delayed, and as a result, the delivery date was changed.

“〜結果けっか” is an expression used to describe the result that happened after an action, a state, or an event.
It does not include the speaker’s feelings or opinions.
Instead, it focuses on showing the fact-based cause-and-effect relationship (A → B).
Unlike “〜あげく” or “〜末すえに,” it does not contain emotions or value judgments.
It simply explains, “After A happened, B happened.”
Because it is a neutral and objective expression, it is often used in news, reports, business writing, and other formal situations.

[Examples]
毎日まいにち少すこしずつ練習れんしゅうした結果けっか、日本にほん語ごで会話かいわできるようになりました。

As a result of practicing a little every day, I became able to speak Japanese.
⇒ The repeated action (practice) led to the good result (being able to speak).

電車でんしゃが遅おくれた結果けっか、会議かいぎに間に合ま　あいませんでした。

As a result of the train being delayed, I could not make it to the meeting on time.
⇒ The cause (delay) produced a bad result (being late).

データを詳くわしく調しらべた結果けっか、新あたらしい問題もんだい点てんが分わかりました。

As a result of checking the data carefully, we found a new problem.
⇒ The analysis led to a neutral or positive discovery (finding an issue).

Also, unlike “〜あげく” and “〜末すえに,”
“good,” “bad,” or “difficult” feelings are not included in “〜結果けっか.”
Because of this, it sounds unnatural if you add emotions to the sentence.

[Examples]
× 仕事しごとをがんばった結果けっか、本当ほんとうにうれしかったです。

⇒ “結果けっか” does not match sentences that express emotions like “うれしい,” so this sounds unnatural.

○ 仕事しごとをがんばった結果けっか、目標もくひょうを達成たっせいしました。

As a result of working hard, I achieved my goal.
⇒ This is natural because it explains only the cause and result, without emotions.

Let’s Compare

“〜あげく” is used when a bad result happens after many actions or a long period of time.
It includes feelings such as disappointment or frustration, like “I tried many things, but in the end it didn’t work.”

“〜末すえに” shows the final conclusion after a long time, effort, or careful thinking.
It can be used for good or bad results.
Even if the result is bad, it has the nuance that the speaker accepts the conclusion.

“〜結果けっか” is an expression that explains the result after an action in an objective way.
It can be used for both good and bad results, and it is suitable when you want to state only the fact, without emotions.

Here, we will compare sentences with the same meaning to understand the different nuances of
“〜あげく,” “〜末すえに,” and “〜結果けっか” more clearly.

[Examples]
① 勉強べんきょうしたあげく、合格ごうかくしました。

② 勉強べんきょうした末すえに、合格ごうかくしました。
③ 勉強べんきょうした結果けっか、合格ごうかくしました。

① “〜あげく” can only be used for bad results, so this sentence is unnatural (and incorrect).
It has the nuance of disappointment or frustration, like “I studied so much, but in the end it was no good.”
Because of this strong negative feeling, it does not match the good result “passing the exam.”

② “〜末すえに” politely shows the long process of time and effort, and expresses that you finally reached the result of passing the exam.
It does not include strong emotions.
It has the nuance of “After going through the process, I reached the final conclusion.”

③ “〜結果けっか” objectively explains the fact that happened after the action of studying.
It simply shows the cause-and-effect:
“Studying (cause) → Passing the exam (result).”
It does not include emotions such as joy or frustration.

Let’s look at one more example.

[Examples]
① いろいろ探さがしたあげく、見みつかりませんでした。
② いろいろ探さがした末すえに、見みつかりませんでした。
③ いろいろ探さがした結果けっか、見みつかりませんでした。

① “〜あげく” strongly expresses a bad result with feelings such as disappointment or frustration, like “I searched so much, but in the end I couldn’t find it.”
Even though the speaker spent a lot of time and effort, there was no result, so emotions like “I’m disappointed,” “I’m tired,” or “It was useless” are included.

② “〜末すえに”means “I searched for a long time and tried hard, but in the end I could not find it.”
It shows a calm feeling of acceptance.
Although the result is bad, the speaker is saying, “I tried many things, and this was the final outcome,” in a settled way.

③ “〜結果けっか” gives an objective explanation of the fact that happened after the action of searching.
It simply states the cause-and-effect:
“Searching (cause) → Could not find it (result).”
It does not include any feelings from the speaker.

Summary

[〜あげく]

• Used only when the result is bad.
• After many tries or spending a lot of time, the ending becomes something unwanted.
  It includes negative feelings such as disappointment, regret, or frustration from the speaker.

[〜末すえに]

• Can be used for both good and bad results.
• Even if the result is bad, it has the nuance that the speaker accepts the final decision:
  “I tried many things, and this is the conclusion.”
• Overall, it has a polite and calm impression.

[〜結果けっか]

• Can be used for good or bad results.
• It states the cause → result relationship objectively, without emotions.
• It is often used in news, reports, and business writing, where the speaker explains facts in a simple and neutral way.

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