The End of the Line: 最後尾 Saikoubi

Have you ever come across funny English in Japan? Recently, I saw a sign that said “Last end,” but what we really meant was “End of the line.”

The sign was written in both English and Japanese, with the Japanese character 最後尾 (saikoubi) /saɪkoːbi/ displayed at the top of the language list. This term means “the very end” or “the tail end” of something. In Japan, it’s commonly used to refer to the last position in a line, the end of a queue, or the final stage of a process.

So, if you ever find yourself in Japan and see a sign that says “Last end,” don’t worry – it’s just a funny example of Engrish. And remember, 最後尾 (saikoubi) means “End of the line.”