1.
end, tip
The final part or extremity of something.
指の末まで冷たい。
It's cold down to my fingertips.
枝の末に小さな花が咲いている。
Small flowers are blooming at the tip of the branch.
子孫の末まで語り継ぐべき物語だ。
It's a story that should be passed down to future generations.
2.
future, end result
What will happen eventually; the outcome after a process.
長い議論の末、結論が出た。
After a long discussion, a conclusion was reached.
苦労の末に成功をつかんだ。
After much hardship, they achieved success.
悩んだ末、転職を決意した。
After much deliberation, I decided to change jobs.
3.
end of a period
The final part of a time period (month, year, etc.).
月末までに提出してください。
Please submit by the end of the month.
年の末は忙しくなる。
The end of the year gets busy.
今月末で契約が切れる。
The contract expires at the end of this month.
末 indicates the end or conclusion of something.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- ～の末（に） (after..., at the end of...)
- 月末 (end of the month)
- 年末 (end of the year)
- 週末 (weekend) - note: pronounced まつ in this compound
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 将来の末 (in the future, eventually)
- 苦労の末 (after much hardship)
- 議論の末 (after discussion)
READING NOTE:
- 末: kun'yomi, used independently or in patterns like ～の末
- 末: on'yomi, used in compounds like 週末, 月末