～たあげく
after all that, ended up
～あげく means that after a prolonged effort or a lot of trouble, things ended up in a (usually bad) result. English equivalents are “after all that ...” or “... and in the end”.
This grammar highlights the final outcome of a long process, often with the feeling that the effort, worry, or trouble was not worth it.
The first clause describes something long and draining like arguing or waiting. Unlike ～末（に）, which is neutral about the outcome, ～あげく typically introduces a disappointing or regrettable ending.
1. A long struggle with a deflating conclusion
The result in the second clause feels like a letdown after everything that came before it.
さんざん悩んだあげく、やめることにした。
“After agonizing over it, I ended up quitting.”
- さんざん = a great deal, endlessly
- 悩んだ（なやんだ）= agonized, worried
- あげく = after all that, in the end
- やめることにした = decided to quit
2. Wasted time and effort
～あげく is perfect for stories where all the effort came to nothing.
何時間も迷ったあげく、何も買わずに帰った。
“After hours of dithering, I went home without buying anything.”
- 何時間も（なんじかんも）= for hours (and hours)
- 迷った（まよった）= dithered, couldn't decide
- あげく = after all that
- 何も（なにも）= nothing (with a negative verb)
- 買わずに（かわずに）= without buying
- 帰った（かえった）= went home
How to form it
Verb た-form + あげく（に） / Noun + のあげく
- 悩む（なやむ）= to agonize → 悩んだあげく（なやんだあげく）= after agonizing
- 迷う（まよう）= to waver → 迷ったあげく（まよったあげく）= after wavering
- 口論（こうろん）= quarrel → 口論のあげく（こうろんのあげく）= after a quarrel
Key idea
～あげく is the sigh at the end of a long ordeal: after all that time and trouble, this (usually something disappointing) is how it turned out.
Other N2 grammar
Updated .