Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 6: 7/16

～てしまう

To do something by accident, To finish completely・totally, Unfortunately

Structure

Verb［て］+ しまう
Verb［て］ + ちゃう(1)

(1) じゃう(*)

(*) Used when Verb［て］ends with で

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About てしまう・ちゃう

By combining the conjunction particle て, with the verb しまう (sometimes written as 終(しま)う), you are able to express that something was done 'by accident', 'completely', or 'unfortunately'. These meanings may seem quite different, but we will discuss their similarities in a moment. Let's look at a few examples of てしまう first.
  • 私(わたし)はすぐに道(みち)に迷(まよ)ってしまう。
    Unfortunately, I easily get lost.
  • 家(いえ)にお菓子(かし)がいっぱいあると全部(ぜんぶ)食(た)べてしまうのでお菓子(かし)を買(か)わないようにしている。
    When there are a lot of snacks in my house, I completely eat them all, so I try not to buy them.
  • メニューにアイスクリームがあると頼(たの)んでしまう。
    When there is ice-cream on the menu, I unfortunately order it.
  • 私(わたし)はよく舌(した)を噛(か)んでしまう。
    I accidentally bite my tongue often.
As we can see, verbs that usually take で instead of て will be no different when using てしまう.
Sometimes, てしまう or でしまう will be shortened to a more casual form, which are often used in speech. These forms are as follows:
てしまう will become ちゃう
でしまう will become じゃう
  • 最近(さいきん)運動(うんどう)をしてないから太(ふと)っちゃう。
    Recently, I haven't been exercising, so I'm totally going to get fat.
  • 花(はな)が死(し)んじゃうから、花(はな)を踏(ふ)むな。
    Since the flowers will unfortunately die, don't step on them.
Fun Fact
While て終(しま)う is most frequently written in hiragana, て仕舞(しま)う may also be seen. There is a slight nuance difference between these two kanji structures, but the primary meaning of しまう will always be that 'something has come to the point where ending/ending up in a specific state cannot be avoided'. This 'no turning back point' may be temporary (likely to be written as 仕舞(しま)う), or it may be permanent (likely to be written as 終(しま)う).
Due to this 'cannot be avoided' nuance, しまう often comes across as 'totally', as in 'ah… I totally left the chicken in the oven for too long'. In these cases, it is simply expressing the speaker's exasperation that something is 'too late' to change. However, despite regularly being used negatively, てしまう can also be used positively. In these cases it still has the nuance of 'no turning back'.
  • ゲームを始(はじ)める前(まえ)に宿題(しゅくだい)を終(お)わらせてしまおう！
    Let's completely finish my homework before I start playing video games! (I'm going to completely finish my homework before I start playing video games)
  • 青木(あおき)先輩(せんぱい)、定時(ていじ)までに社長(しゃちょう)に頼(たの)まれたレポートを完成(かんせい)させてしまいましょうよ。
    Aoki senpai, let's completely finish the report that our boss has asked us to do before work is over.

Examples

  • 傘(かさ)を忘(わす)れてしまった。

    I unfortunately forgot my umbrella. (I totally forgot my umbrella)

  • 友達(ともだち)は私(わたし)のケーキを食(た)べてしまった。

    My friend finished off my cake.

  • お皿(さら)が割(わ)れてしまった。

    (Someone) accidentally broke a plate.

  • 今(いま)出(で)ないと遅(おく)れてしまうよ。

    If you don't leave now, you will totally be late.

  • ごめん！卵(たまご)を全部(ぜんぶ)使(つか)ってしまった。

    Sorry! I completely used all the eggs. (Sorry! I totally used all the eggs)

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てしまう・ちゃう – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (24 in total)

  • Pablunpro

    Pablunpro

    Hello!

    I just saw Kaname Naito’s video on this grammar and thought it was quite clarifying. Would it be a good idea to add it to the オンライン section?

    Thank you for your consideration, 良い一日を

  • xgc1986

    xgc1986

    Hi, for some reason it says my solution is wrong, is it wrong using the polite form or I am missing something?

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    Hey @xgc1986 !

    We have just added わすれてしまいました to the list of answers that would trigger a hint so that the it wouldn’t be counted as wrong!

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