How to say "ultimately" in Japanese

• 結局けっきょくJLPT N3approx.Common
  adverbCovers 'ultimately' in the sense of 'after all is said and done, this was the result or conclusion'. It evaluates the final outcome of a process or deliberation, e.g. deciding that a plan ultimately was not worth it.
  ゆっくりと着実ちゃくじつなのが結局けっきょく勝かつ。↗

  Slow and steady wins the race.
• とうとうJLPT N4approx.Common
  adverbCovers 'ultimately' as 'in the end, finally', emphasizing that something eventually happened, often after a long wait or struggle, or conversely that a dreaded thing finally came to pass. It focuses on the moment of arrival rather than a summary judgment.
  とうとう、良よい考かんがえが浮うかんだ。↗

  At last a good idea struck me.
• つまりJLPT N3approx.Common
  adverbCovers 'ultimately' as 'in short; to sum up', used to restate or distill what one means in a concise conclusion. It is the word for 'ultimately, what I'm saying is…', not for narrating how events turned out.

Use 結局 for the final outcome after everything is considered, 「とうとう」 for something finally happening (often after effort or delay), and 「つまり」 for summing up or restating a conclusion in brief.

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

• 結局けっきょくafter all
• とうとうfinally
• いずれはeventually
• つまるところin short
• しまいにin the end
• つまりin short