Have you ever did something and regret it afterwards? Well, it happens all the time for me… The expression 〜てしまう (〜te shimau) is just what you need! So, in this blog post, we’ll explore how to use 〜てしまう effectively, along with examples to help you understand both its meanings: completion and regret.

Two Different Usages of 〜てしまう

The structure 〜てしまう is added to the te-form of a verb to convey two main meanings:

1. Completion: Expressing that an action is fully completed.
2. Regret: Conveying a sense of regret or an unintended outcome.

Depending on the context, 〜てしまう can have either a positive or negative nuance. Let’s break down each usage.

1. Completion

When you want to say that you have finished or completed an action, you can use 〜てしまう. In this case, it’s similar to saying “I’ve done it” or “it’s finished” in English. There’s no negative nuance attached to this use. It’s more about the sense of wrapping things up.

For example:

• 仕事しごとが終おわってしまいました。
  • Shigoto ga owatte shimaimashita.
  • “I have finished my work.”
• 本ほんを読よみ終おわってしまいました。
  • Hon o yomi owatte shimaimashita.
  • “I finished reading the book.”

In these examples, てしまう emphasizes the completion of the action… there’s nothing more to be done!

2. Regret or Unintended Action

Another common use of 〜てしまう is to express regret or an action that happened unintentionally. It’s like saying “I accidentally…” or “I ended up…” in English. This nuance often suggests that the action wasn’t what you wanted or had some unfortunate consequences.

For example:

• さいふとカードを忘わすれてしまいました。
  • Saifu to kaado o wasurete shimaimashita.
  • “I accidentally forgot my wallet and card.”
• コーヒーをこぼしてしまいました。
  • Koohii o koboshite shimaimashita.
  • “I spilled the coffee (unfortunately).”

In these examples, the nuance of regret or unintended action is clear. The speaker didn’t intend for these events to happen, and てしまう helps communicate that.

Casual Contraction: 〜ちゃう/〜じゃう

In casual conversation, てしまう is often contracted to 〜ちゃう (for verbs ending in -te) or 〜じゃう (for verbs ending in -de). This makes your speech sound more natural and less formal.

For example:

• 忘わすれてしまう→忘わすれちゃう (wasurechau)
  • “I’ll end up forgetting (it).”
• 食たべてしまう→食たべちゃう (tabechau)
  • “I’ll eat (it) up.”

These contractions are widely used in everyday Japanese, especially in casual settings among friends or family.

Practice Examples

To help you get a better feel for using 〜てしまう, here are some practice sentences. What would you say those sentences in a casual way, when talking to your friend for example? Turn them into casual speech and write them in the comment section:

1. スナックを全部ぜんぶたべてしまいました。
   • Sunakku o zenbu tabete shimaimashita.
   • “I ended up eating all the snacks.” (Regret)
2. 雨あめが降ふってしまいました。
   • Ame ga futte shimaimashita.
   • “It ended up raining.” (Unexpected outcome)
3. 自分じぶんのプロジェクトを終おわらせてしまいました。
   • Jibun no purojekuto o owarasete shimaimashita.
   • “I have finished my project.” (Completion)

Summary

The structure 〜てしまう is versatile and useful in Japanese for conveying both completed actions and regrettable or unintended actions. Whether you’re celebrating finishing a task or expressing a bit of regret over spilling your coffee, てしまう helps add that emotional nuance to your sentences.

Next time you’re speaking or writing in Japanese, try using 〜てしまう to describe a completed action or to add a touch of regret. It will definitely make your Japanese more expressive!

If you want to learn Japanese, improve your skills, or connect with native speakers and other learners, we can help. We offer one-on-one lessons, a supportive community, and on demand courses.

Website: nihongonana.com
Email: support@nihongonana.com

✅Book 1-on-1 lessons: https://nihongonana.com/lessons/
✅Join our community: https://nihongonana.com/community/
✅Access courses: https://nihongonana.com/courses/