1.
the whole story; full account; every detail from start to finish
Refers to the complete sequence of events or facts, from the very beginning to the very end, without omitting anything.
事件の一部始終を話した。
I told the whole story of the incident.
彼女はその場の一部始終を目撃していた。
She had witnessed everything that happened at the scene.
防犯カメラに事故の一部始終が記録されていたおかげで、原因が特定できた。
Because the security camera had recorded the entire accident from start to finish, the cause could be identified.
USAGE:
一部始終 is a four-character compound (yojijukugo). Despite containing 一部 (one part), the expression means the complete story, not just a part. The 始終 means "from beginning to end."
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 一部始終を話す (to tell the whole story)
- 一部始終を見る (to see everything)
- 一部始終を記録する (to record the full account)
- 事件の一部始終 (the complete account of an incident)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 一部始終: the whole story, full account (formal, emphasizes completeness)
- 顛末: the full story, circumstances (formal, written)
- 経緯: the details, how things developed (focuses on process)