Meaning and Usage
The adverb '결국' is used to express the final outcome or conclusion after a series of events or considerations. It often implies that despite various possibilities or efforts, the result was inevitable or as expected.
Common Contexts
'결국' is frequently used in everyday conversation, storytelling, and formal writing to summarize or emphasize the final result. It can convey a sense of inevitability or resignation.
Collocations and Patterns
- '결국 ~ 하다': to end up doing something
- '결국에는': emphasizing the final outcome
- '결국 ~ 때문에': indicating cause leading to the final result
Register and Politeness
'결국' is neutral in formality and can be used in both casual and formal contexts without change.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '결국' with '마침내' (finally) or '드디어' (at last). While similar, '결국' emphasizes the outcome after a process, not just the timing of an event. Use '결국' when focusing on the result rather than the moment something happens.