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N4

Finishing / Regret: 〜てしまう

About 8 minutes · written and reviewed by Haruki Yamamoto

Section 1 of 3

Completion: doing something fully

One use of 〜てしまう is simple completion. It can mean that something is finished completely, sometimes faster than expected or with a sense of finality.

  1. Target signal

    宿題を全部やってしまった。

    I finished all of my homework.

    Completion with a sense that the action is fully done.

    Vocabulary notes
    しま
    stripe; striped pattern
    って
    colloquial quoting or topic particle
    全部ぜんぶ
    all; everything

  2. Compare in context

    この本は一日で読んでしまえる。

    I can finish this book in one day.

    Potential-style usage: able to finish completely.

    Vocabulary notes
    読んでよんで
    reading and
    この
    this
    しま
    stripe; striped pattern

Section 2 of 3

Regret or unfortunate result

The second common use is regret, frustration, or an unwanted outcome. In these cases, 〜てしまう sounds like “ended up doing” or “unfortunately did.”

  1. Target signal

    財布を忘れてしまった。

    I ended up forgetting my wallet.

    Unwanted or regrettable result.

    Vocabulary notes
    しま
    stripe; striped pattern
    財布さいふ
    wallet
    をお
    object marker

  2. Preview

    電車で寝てしまった。

    I fell asleep on the train.

    Often translated as 'ended up ...'.

    Vocabulary notes
    しま
    stripe; striped pattern
    電車でんしゃ
    train
    で
    at; in; by; with

Section 3 of 3

Casual forms in speech and reading

In casual Japanese, 〜てしまう often contracts to 〜ちゃう and 〜じゃう. You will see these shortened forms often in dialogue, messages, and light fiction.

  1. Target signal

    もう食べちゃった。

    I already ate it.

    〜ちゃう is the casual contraction of 〜てしまう.

    Vocabulary notes
    もう
    already; any more
    も
    also; too

  2. Preview

    また忘れちゃった。

    I forgot again.

    Very common in spoken regret.

    Vocabulary notes
    また
    again

Reading in context

Read for meaning before checking the answer

Before you read

Read once for the situation. Then notice how 〜てしまう changes the meaning before you check the translation.

宿題を全部やってしまった。 この本は一日で読んでしまえる。 財布を忘れてしまった。 電車で寝てしまった。 もう食べちゃった。 また忘れちゃった。 もう一度読み、意味のつながりを考えましょう。もう一度読み、意味のつながりを考えましょう。もう一度読み、意味のつながりを考えましょう。もう一度読み、意味のつ

Show English translation

I finished all of my homework. I can finish this book in one day. I ended up forgetting my wallet. I fell asleep on the train. I already ate it. I forgot again.

Contextual questions

Answer from the passage before you reveal each explanation.

  1. What is the first reading job for this passage?

    • Identify the situation and how 〜てしまう changes it.
    • Translate every word before using context.
    • Ignore the ending because only vocabulary matters.
    • Choose an answer before reading the full passage.
    Check the answer

    Identify the situation and how 〜てしまう changes it.

    The goal is to use the situation first, then confirm the role of 〜てしまう in context.

Guided practice

Apply the lesson in a few different ways

Work through each prompt, then check the explanation before moving on.

Activity 1 of 4Choose the best context

What are the two main meanings of 〜てしまう?

Activity 2 of 4Fill the blank

Complete the chunk that carries the lesson meaning (〜てしまう).

宿題を全部やって＿＿＿った。

Activity 3 of 4Put it in order

Put these related examples back into the order used in the lesson.

  1. 1この本は一日で読んでしまえる。
  2. 2財布を忘れてしまった。
  3. 3宿題を全部やってしまった。
Activity 4 of 4Infer from the passage

What should guide your interpretation of 〜てしまう in the mini-reading?

Mastery check 1/3

What are the two main meanings of 〜てしまう?