Practice JLPTHow to tell them apart
あげく（に） emphasizes a long, often troubled process leading to a decision or outcome, typically with verbs of deliberation like 考えたあげく or 迷ったあげく. 末（に） stresses sustained effort or struggle over time before a result, fitting nouns of extended hardship as in 交渉の末 or 熱戦の末. Swapping them can feel off because あげく leans toward personal wavering, while 末（に） suits a drawn-out battle or negotiation.
- あげく（に） Use あげく（に） when someone wavers or deliberates for a long time before finally deciding.
- 末（に） Use 末（に） when a long, hard effort or struggle finally produces a result.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| あげく（に） ageku ni | In the end/After all | N2 |
| 末（に） ni | After (much effort) | N2 |
あげく（に） ageku ni
In the end/After all
in the end; finally; eventually; after | An adverb/conjunction indicating that one spends an extended period of time before reaching a result.
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さんざん考えたあげく（に）大学院へ進学することにした。
After thinking for a long time, I decided to go on to graduate school.
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さんざん迷ったあげく、一年休職してアメリカに留学することにした。
After weighing my options for a long time, I finally decided to take a one-year leave from my company to study abroad in the U.S.
末（に） ni
After (much effort)
After; at the end of | A noun that indicates the end of a period or the time after long, hard mental or physical work.
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5時間を超える熱戦の末、タイガースが勝った。
After a close game lasting more than five hours, the Tigers won.
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M銀行とU銀行の合併交渉は１年以上も難航した末、やっと成立した。
After more than a year of difficult merger negotiations, M Bank and U Bank finally came to an agreement.
あげく（に） and 末（に） are both JLPT N2 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side — meanings, usage and example sentences — so you can tell them apart.