最期(さいご)

さいご
noun
one's last moments; dying hour; end of life
time-generalhealth
1. one's last moments; death; dying hour
The moment of a person's death, and the circumstances surrounding it. Used only of living beings and, by extension, of organizations or eras being spoken of as if they died.
立派(りっぱ)な最期(さいご)だった。
It was an admirable death.
父(ちち)の最期(さいご)を看取(みと)ることができた。
I was able to be at my father's side at the end.
彼(かれ)は最期(さいご)の瞬間(しゅんかん)まで、家族(かぞく)のことを気(き)にかけていた。
Right up to his final moment, he was concerned about his family.

Homophone of 最後(さいご) (the last one, the end) but not interchangeable: 最期(さいご) is only about the end of a life. Writing ✗最後(さいご)を看取(みと)る for a deathbed is a common kanji mistake.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 最後(さいご): the last, the end — general-purpose; use for anything other than dying
  • 臨終(りんじゅう): one's dying hour — more formal and clinical, used in medical and religious contexts

Related Words

Homophone: 最後(さいご) (the last, the end)
Compare: 臨終(りんじゅう) (one's dying hour)
Related: 末路(まつろ) (end, fate, downfall)
Compare: 終焉(しゅうえん) (end, demise, termination)
general
Added 2026.8.2 18:20 · Revised 2026.9.9 0:23
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