JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N4 grammar · Chapter 4

~てしまう・~ちゃう・~じゃう

Finish completely or do something regrettable

You'll be able to say an action was completed fully or happened with an unwanted result, including common casual forms.

Illustration of the scene described by Mei accidentally spilled her juice.
Read it first

芽衣めいはジュースをこぼしてしまいました。

mei wa juusu o koboshite shimaimashita.

What do you think this sentence means?

Mei accidentally spilled her juice.

Why it means that

Finish completely or react to an outcome

~てしまう can emphasize complete finishing or express regret, surprise, or an unintended result. Context determines whether the outcome is unfortunate.

Example

宿題しゅくだいを全部ぜんぶやってしまいました。

shukudai o zenbu yatte shimaimashita.

I finished all my homework.

How it is built

Form and use ~てしまう・~ちゃう・~じゃう

Casual てしまう becomes ちゃう and でしまう becomes じゃう. Past forms are ちゃった and じゃった. Finishing homework can be positive; the pattern does not always mean regret.

Verb て/で-form+しまう/~ちゃう / ~じゃう
Examples

宿題しゅくだいを全部ぜんぶやってしまいました。

shukudai o zenbu yatte shimaimashita.

I finished all my homework.

切符きっぷをなくしちゃった。

kippu o nakushichatta.

I lost my ticket.

水みずを全部ぜんぶ飲のんじゃった。

mizu o zenbu nonjatta.

I drank all the water.

Examples

電車でんしゃで寝ねてしまって、降おりる駅えきで降おりられませんでした。

densha de nete shimatte, oriru eki de oriraremasen deshita.

I fell asleep on the train and couldn't get off at my stop.

今朝けさ寝坊ねぼうをしたので、会議かいぎに遅おくれてしまいました。

kesa nebou o shita node, kaigi ni okurete shimaimashita.

I overslept this morning, so I was late for the meeting.

新あたらしいスマホを落おとしてしまいました。

atarashii sumaho o otoshite shimaimashita.

I dropped my new smartphone.

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