How to say "last" in Japanese

• 前ぜんJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun (prefix)Covers 'last' in the sense of 'immediately preceding': last week, last time, the previous page. It also means 'former' or 'ex-', and it points backward, never to the final item of a series.
  前ぜん学期がっきは成績せいせきがよかった。↗

  I had a good report last term.
• 最終さいしゅうJLPT N3approx.Common
  no-adjectiveThe 'final' sense: the last train, the final episode, the last stop, one's final decision. Choose it when 'last' means the end of a series, schedule or process, not the one immediately before.
  最終電車さいしゅうでんしゃはいつ出でますか。↗

  When does the last train leave?
• 続くつづくJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbThe verb 'to last': a meeting that lasts three hours, rain that goes on all day, a trend that continues. It never identifies a final item — for that idea use 最終.
  どれくらいこの寒さむい天気てんきは続つづきますか。↗

  How long will this cold weather go on?
• ラストCommon
  prenominal modifierThe borrowed English word, for the final item or stage of something: the last scene, the last game, a last chance. It overlaps with 最終, with the flavor of English 'last' intact.
  ラスト・オーダーは締め切しめきらせていただきました。↗

  Last call!
• 究極きゅうきょくJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjective, suru verb, intransitive verbReally means 'ultimate': the utmost or most extreme form of something, as in one's ultimate goal or the ultimate choice. Its 'last' sense is marginal — for an ordinary 'final' meaning, use 最終 instead.
  人類じんるいの究極きゅうきょく的てき運命うんめいはどうなるであろうか。↗

  What is man's ultimate destiny?

Use 前 for 'last' meaning the one immediately before now, 最終 or 「ラスト」 for the final item in a series, 「続く」 for the verb 'to last', and avoid 究極 except for 'ultimate'.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 前ぜんlast (i.e. immediately preceding)
• 最終さいしゅうlast
• 続くつづくto continue
• ラストlast
• 究極きゅうきょくultimate
• 持ちこたえるもちこたえるto hold out (e.g. against an attack)
• 昨さくlast (year)
• びりlast (on the list)
• とべlast (in a contest)
• びけlast (on the list)
• べべたlast (on the list)
• べったlast (on the list)
• ビリけつlast (on the list)
• げぼlast (on the list)
• べくlast (on the list)
• べったこlast (on the list)
• 立ち行くたちゆくto maintain itself
• どべbottom
• どんべbottom
• このlast (couple of years, etc.)
• 最後さいごlast
• 保つたもつto last
• この前このまえlast (Sunday, summer, etc.)
• さよならfarewell (performance, party, etc.)
• 持てるもてるto endure (the tests of time, the elements, etc.)
• 足形あしがたlast
• 持つもつto last
• 先さきprevious
• べべlast (on the list)