終止符

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 終止符 (しゅうしふ) combines stopping 終止 and sign 符 for a period, with an extended sense of a decisive end.
• Basic usage: It names sentence-final punctuation and figuratively the ending of a long dispute or affair.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Punctuation and a figurative conclusion
  • 終止符を打つ may mean placing a period or bringing an ongoing matter firmly to an end.