'尾声' literally combines '尾' (wěi), meaning 'tail' or 'end', and '声' (shēng), meaning 'sound' or 'voice'. Together, it evokes the image of the final sounds or concluding notes—hence its primary meaning: the closing part of a performance, story, event, or process. It carries a literary, slightly formal tone and is commonly used in discussions of music, theater, film, literature, and even historical or social developments.

While '尾' alone can refer to animal tails (linking it to the Animals topic), '尾声' is metaphorical—it doesn’t describe physical anatomy but rather structure and timing. You’ll hear it in phrases like '演出的尾声' (the finale of a performance) or '改革的尾声' (the concluding phase of reforms). Unlike colloquial terms like '结尾', '尾声' suggests elegance, reflection, and often emotional resonance—implying not just an end, but a meaningful, resonant close.