These three patterns share one thing in common: things don't go as expected. But the direction of the "unexpected" differs for each.
たら最後 / たが最後 — Once You Do It, There's No Turning Back
Structure: Verb た-form + ら最後 / が最後
Expresses "once A happens, an irreversible result B follows." B is almost always negative or extreme.
-
彼がマイクを持ったら最後、誰にも渡さずにずっと歌い続ける。 → Once he grabs the microphone, he won't hand it to anyone and just keeps singing forever.
-
あの犬は骨を見つけたが最後、絶対に離さない。 → Once that dog finds a bone, it absolutely won't let go.
-
彼女が買い物を始めたら最後、3時間は帰れない。 → Once she starts shopping, you won't be going home for at least 3 hours.
たら最後 and たが最後 mean exactly the same thing; たら最後 is more common. The core nuance = irreversible + negative/exaggerated.
思いきや — Expected X, Got the Exact Opposite
Structure: Verb/adjective plain form + と思いきや / かと思いきや
"I thought it would be A, but it actually turned out to be B" — A and B typically form a stark contrast.
-
順調に進むと思いきや、当日にドタキャンされた。 → I thought things were going smoothly, but they cancelled on the day.
-
不合格かと思いきや、ギリギリで合格していた。 → I thought I'd failed, but I barely passed.
-
怒られると思いきや、逆に褒められた。 → I thought I'd be scolded, but was praised instead.
The key to 思いきや is the gap. The first half is the expectation, the second half is the surprising reality. It can go from bad to good, or good to bad.
とは言うものの — That Said, However...
Structure: Verb/adjective plain form + とは言うものの / とは言え
"I understand the point, but the reality isn't that simple." Used to acknowledge a generally accepted premise, then add a concessive counterpoint.
-
物質的には豊かになったとは言うものの、心は本当に豊かなのだろうか。 → We may have become materially wealthy, but are our hearts truly fulfilled?
-
日本語が上手だとは言うものの、ビジネスメールはまだ難しい。 → They say my Japanese is good, but business emails are still difficult.
-
春が来たとは言うものの、まだまだ寒い日が続いている。 → Spring may have arrived, but the cold days just keep going.
とは言うものの ≈ とは言え, but とは言うものの sounds more conversational and softer. Both mean "I acknowledge the premise, but here's another angle."
Comparison
| Pattern | Core Nuance | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| たら最後 | Once you do it, it's over | Irreversible negative outcome |
| 思いきや | Thought A, actually B | Gap between expectation and reality |
| とは言うものの | That said, however... | Concessive turn after acknowledging a premise |
Summary
- たら最後 / たが最後 = once X happens, there's no turning back (negative/exaggerated)
- 思いきや = expected X, but the opposite happened (emphasizes the gap)
- とは言うものの = the reasoning is sound, but reality tells a different story (concessive turn)
Self-Test
Q1. Choose the correct pattern: 「彼がゲームを始めた＿＿＿、朝まで止まらない。」
A. とは言うものの B. たら最後 C. 思いきや
Show answer
B. たら最後. "Once he starts gaming, he won't stop until morning" — irreversible + exaggerated negative result, classic たら最後.
Q2. Translate: 「簡単だと思いきや、めちゃくちゃ難しかった。」
Show answer
"I thought it would be easy, but it was ridiculously hard." 思いきや expresses the huge gap between expectation and reality.
Q3. 「経済は回復した＿＿＿、失業率はまだ高いままだ。」 Which pattern fits?
Show answer
とは言うものの. "The economy may have recovered, but the unemployment rate is still high." Acknowledges the premise (economic recovery), then makes a concessive turn.