1.
dead end; cul-de-sac
a road or path that has no exit except back the way you came
この道は行き止まりだ。
This road is a dead end.
行き止まりの標識がある。
There's a dead end sign.
間違えて行き止まりに入ってしまった。
I accidentally turned into a dead end.
2.
impasse; deadlock
a situation where no further progress is possible
交渉は行き止まりに達した。
The negotiations reached an impasse.
研究が行き止まりになってしまった。
The research has reached a dead end.
人生に行き止まりはないと信じている。
I believe there are no dead ends in life.
From the verb 行く (to go) + 止まる (to stop). Used both literally for roads and figuratively for situations with no way forward.
SENSE 1 — PHYSICAL DEAD END:
- 行き止まりの道: dead end road
- 行き止まりの標識: dead end sign
SENSE 2 — FIGURATIVE IMPASSE:
- 行き止まりに達する: to reach a dead end/impasse
- 行き止まりになる: to hit a dead end
- 交渉が行き止まり: negotiations are at an impasse
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 突き当たり: end of a road, T-junction (physical only; not used figuratively)
- 袋小路: cul-de-sac, blind alley (both literal and figurative)
- 膠着状態: stalemate (figurative only, formal)