終わってる

• Reading: おわってる
• Romaji: owatteru
• Kanji breakdown: 終 (end/finish) in te-iru contracted form → in a permanent state of being over
• Pronunciation: /o.wat.te.ɾɯ/

Meaning

It's over, done for, or hopeless — declares that something or someone has no future or chance of recovery.

終わってる (te-iru form of 終わる, 'to end') is used to declare that something is in a permanent state of being finished. Unlike 終わった (simply ended), the continuous form 終わってる implies an ongoing, hopeless state. It can describe outdated companies, lost causes, terrible trends, and people who are hopelessly behind the times. It is harsher than オワコン and can be used for a wider range of targets beyond just 'content.'

Examples

1. あのブランド、センス終わってるよね。 That brand's taste is totally done for, right?
2. 締め切り明日なのにまだ何もやってない、終わってる。 The deadline is tomorrow and I haven't done a thing — I'm done for.
3. あの会社のサービス終わってるから乗り換えた。 That company's service is hopeless so I switched.

Usage Guide

Context: friends, social media, internet, casual conversation

Tone: dismissive, resigned, critical

Do Say

• あの対応は終わってるわ。 (That response is beyond hope.)
• 自分のスケジュール管理終わってる。 (My schedule management is a disaster.)

Don't Say

• 現役で頑張ってる人やブランドに直接「終わってる」は侮辱 (Saying 'owatteru' directly to an actively working person or brand is insulting)

Common Mistakes

• Confusing 終わってる (stative: in a state of being done for) with 終わった (perfective: simply ended)
• Using 終わってる in formal contexts — it is a casual, blunt judgement

Origin & History

From the standard verb 終わる (owaru, to end) in the te-iru continuous/stative form. The slang usage emphasises a permanent, ongoing state of being 'finished' or 'done for.' Has been common in casual speech and gained internet popularity in the 2000s–2010s.

Cultural Context

Era: 2000s–2010s casual adoption

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal informal

Regional notes: Used nationwide. Harsher and broader in application than the related slang term オワコン.