あの人は言い出したが最後決して考えを変えない。
- Once that person speaks up, they never change their mind.

あの人は言い出したが最後決して考えを変えない。 meaning: That person, once they start talking, they never change their mind.

The sentence follows a subject-object-verb order, common in Japanese. However, it also includes complex sentence structures typical of N1 grammar. ⚫︎ The sentence begins with a topic marker あの人 (that person), establishing the subject. ⚫︎ It then includes a conditional clause, 言い出したが (if they started to say), followed by a fixed expression 最後 (at last/finally). ⚫︎ The main clause states 決して考えを変えない (they never change their mind).

This is a fixed expression indicating that something *will* happen immediately after a preceding action. It often implies a negative or undesirable consequence. ⚫︎ Structure: Verb (た-form) + が最後(は) ⚫︎ Meaning: "Once (they do X), then (Y will happen)." ⚫︎ In this sentence, 言い出した (said) is in the ta-form + が最後. ⚫︎ This implies that once the person *starts* to talk (or say something), they will *definitely* not change their mind. ⚫︎ Examples: * 彼が飲み始めたが最後、止まらない。 - Once he starts drinking, he won't stop. * 彼女が泣き出したが最後、大変だよ。 - Once she starts crying, it's a big problem.

This is a verb that means to start to say something or to bring up a topic. It is used to indicate the beginning of a verbal action. ⚫︎ This verb has an important meaning related to the starting point of a verbal action or the act of bringing up a matter. ⚫︎ 言い出す itself is a compound verb: * 言う (to say) * 出す (to put out/to start) ⚫︎ The combination suggests the action of "putting out" or "initiating" speech. ⚫︎ It can be conjugated like a regular godan verb. ⚫︎ Examples: * 何か言い出したいことがある？ - Do you have something you want to say? * 彼は突然、離婚を言い出した。 - He suddenly brought up the topic of divorce.

This is an adverb that emphasizes the negation of a verb. It means "never," "by no means," or "absolutely not." ⚫︎ It is always used with a negative verb form. ⚫︎ It strengthens the negation of the verb. ⚫︎ In this sentence, 決して modifies 変えない, emphasizing that the person *never* changes their mind. ⚫︎ Examples: * 私は決して嘘は言わない。 - I will never tell a lie. * 彼は決して諦めない。 - He will never give up.

This verb phrase is very common and fundamental. It means to change something. ⚫︎ 変える (to change) is a transitive verb (他動詞), meaning it takes a direct object. ⚫︎ In this sentence, 考え (thought/mind) is the direct object being changed. ⚫︎ The particle を marks the direct object. ⚫︎ Examples: * 計画を変える - to change the plan. * 色を変える - to change the color. * 態度を変える - to change the attitude.

The verb 言い出す is conjugated in the informal past tense (た-form) to create a conditional clause. ⚫︎ Regular godan verbs change to their た-form. ⚫︎ In this case, 言い出す -> 言い出した. ⚫︎ The informal past tense emphasizes the completed action, which in this case sets the condition for the following consequence. ⚫︎ Examples: * 話した (spoke/talked) * 食べた (ate) * 行った (went/did) * This is crucial for understanding conditional clauses like ～たが最後(は)