Japanese

しょせん
Meaning: after all; in the end; at any rate
Part of Speech: Adverb Alternative Readings: そせん

Listen to pronunciation

Handwriting

所
詮

Example sentences

No matter how hard I try, it will probably end up in vain after all.
あの政治家たちはお互いを批判しているが、所詮は同じ穴の狢だ。
Those politicians criticize each other, but they are actually birds of a feather.
この世の栄華など、所詮は夢幻泡影に過ぎない。
The prosperity of this world is, after all, nothing more than a fleeting dream.
人生の栄華など、所詮は一炊之夢に過ぎない。
Prosperity in life is, after all, nothing more than a transient dream.
成功も名声も、所詮は黄粱一炊の夢に過ぎない。
Success and fame are, after all, nothing more than a fleeting dream.
書物から得られる知識など、所詮は古人糟魄に過ぎない。
Knowledge obtained from books is, after all, nothing more than the dregs of the ancients.

Usage Notes

Used to express a conclusion or an outcome that feels inevitable, often with a negative or cynical tone.

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