最期|さいごsaigo[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. noun, adverbone's last moment; one's death; one's end
   将来しょうらい、いつかコンピューターが文学ぶんがく作品さくひんの翻訳ほんやくに着手ちゃくしゅするようになれば、われわれが知しるような文学ぶんがくは最期さいごを迎むかえることになるだろう。↗

   When, one day, computers undertake to translate literary works, it will be the end of literature as we know it.

• Synonym終焉しゅうえんWrittenA solemn written word for the end of life or of an era; also used for peacefully spending one's final years.
• Synonym末期まつごWrittenRefers to the dying moment, as in 「末期の水」, with a solemn, archaic feel; 「最期」 is more common and can also cover the fall of a nation or organization.
• Related最後さいごNeutralThe homophone 「最後」 means the last in order or the end of something, with extremely broad uses; 「最期」 is for the moment of dying or of a nation's fall.
• Related終末しゅうまつWrittenA written word for the end or close, seen mostly in 「終末期」 or talk of the world's end; not specifically a person's death.
• Related終結しゅうけつWrittenA written word for the ending of wars, disputes, or events; not used of a person's death.
• Related結末けつまつNeutralThe ending or outcome of a story or event; not specifically about death.
• Related末路まつろNeutralOne's final days as a miserable, pitiable downfall, with a negative nuance, as in 「独裁者の末路」.
• Related最終段階さいしゅうだんかいNeutralThe final stage of an undertaking or process, said of business or of life, as in 「人生の最終段階」; 「最期」 is the very moment of dying.
• Related終極しゅうきょくWrittenA written word for the ultimate or final point of something; not specifically about death.
• Antonym始まりはじまりNeutralA beginning or start; the opposite of 「最期」 as the end of a life.
• Antonym最初さいしょNeutralThe very beginning or first; the opposite of 「最期」 as one's final moment.
• Antonym誕生たんじょうNeutralBirth or coming into being; the opposite of 「最期」 as the moment of death.

Use 「最期」 for the moment of dying or of a nation's fall, as in 「最期を看取る」 or 「壮絶な最期を遂げる」. For the last in a sequence write 「最後」; for a solemn, archaic tone 「末期」; for a miserable downfall 「末路」. 「誕生」 is the antonym.

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

1. （人ひとなど生き物いきものが）死しぬ間際まぎわ、（国家こっかなど組織そしきが）滅ほろぶ間際まぎわ。
2. 死し。滅亡めつぼう。
3. （多おおくは「～をしたが最期さいご」の形かたちで）取り返とりかえしがつかないこと。選択肢せんたくしがなくなること。