あげく（に） (ageku ni)

Meaning & usage

あげく（に）means that after a long process of doing something, often worrying or hesitating, a final result follows, sometimes an unexpected or negative one. It attaches to the past (ta-form) of a verb, and に is optional. The examples often pair it with さんざん or 迷った, showing lengthy deliberation before the outcome.

Example sentences 4

1. さんざん迷まよったあげく（に）、結局けっきょく何なにも買かわずに帰かえった。

   After agonizing over it forever, I ended up going home without buying anything.

2. 彼は何時間も悩んだあげく（に）、会社を辞めることにした。

   After hours of struggling with the decision, he decided to quit the company.

3. 兄は両親とさんざん口論したあげく（に）、家を出てしまった。

   After a long argument with our parents, my brother ended up leaving home.

4. 値段について何度も交渉したあげく（に）、取引はまとまらなかった。

   After negotiating the price many times, the deal ultimately fell through.