1.
finishing beautifully; ending on a high note; a fitting conclusion
A beautiful or admirable ending to an endeavor, career, or event. Emphasizes that the final result or conclusion was worthy and impressive.
有終の美を飾る。
To finish beautifully.
引退試合で有終の美を飾った。
He finished beautifully in his retirement match.
最後のプロジェクトを成功させて、有終の美を飾りたい。
I want to make the last project a success and end on a high note.
An expression meaning to bring something to a beautiful or admirable conclusion. 有終 means "having a [good] end" and 美 means "beauty." Often used for careers, competitions, or long-term endeavors.
USAGE:
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 有終の美を飾る (literally "to decorate with the beauty of a fine ending"). Rarely used in other constructions.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 有終の美を飾る: to finish beautifully, to end on a high note
- 有終の美を飾れなかった: could not finish beautifully
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- 花道を飾る: to make a splendid exit (literally "to decorate the flower path")
- 大団円: grand finale, happy ending
- 最後を飾る: to cap off the end
ORIGIN:
From classical Chinese. The concept comes from the idea that what matters most is how something ends, not just how it begins.