N4 · Using the te-form
てしまう: done for good, or done and regretted
the te-form with しまう
てしまう marks an action as completely finished — and often as something the speaker wishes had not happened.
On its own, しまう means "to put away" or "to close up". After a te-form it says that the action is done, all the way to the end: 本を全部読んでしまいました, "I read the whole book".
Just as often it says that something happened which the speaker did not want or did not intend: 財布を忘れてしまいました, "I went and forgot my wallet". English has no form for this. It uses tone, or words like "accidentally", "I'm afraid" or "ended up". In Japanese the regret is often the main reason the form is chosen at all.
In conversation it contracts: てしまう becomes ちゃう and でしまう becomes じゃう, past ちゃった and じゃった: 寝ちゃった, "I fell asleep". In writing and in polite speech the full form is used.
With a future or volitional ending it means getting something done and out of the way: 先に食べてしまいましょう, "let's finish eating first". One caution for English speakers: the regret is the speaker's view, and Japanese listeners hear it. 結婚してしまいました can suggest that the wedding was a mistake, or at least a surprise.
The form
stem (regular) stem (irregular) ending auxiliary verb
| forget → have forgotten | 忘れてしまう |
| forget → forgot, polite | 忘れてしまいました |
| read → read it all | 読んでしまう |
| come → came after all | 来てしまった |
| do → went and did | してしまった |
| forget, spoken | 忘れちゃう |
| forget → forgot, spoken | 忘れちゃった |
| drink → drank it all, spoken | 飲んじゃった |
The rules one by one
Te-form + しまう says the action is complete, all the way to the end.
この本はもう全部読んでしまいました。I've already read this whole book.
It often adds regret, or says the result was not intended.
電車に傘を忘れてしまいました。I left my umbrella on the train.
In speech てしまう becomes ちゃう, and でしまう becomes じゃう.
ケーキ、全部食べちゃった。I ate the whole cake.
With a volitional or future ending it means getting something out of the way.
先に宿題をやってしまおう。Let's get the homework out of the way first.
A closer look
Completion and regret are one idea
Both meanings come from "putting away". Once something is put away it is over, and an unwanted event that is over cannot be undone. Which reading is meant depends on whether the speaker wanted it: 宿題をやってしまった is relief, 授業中に寝てしまった is embarrassment.
Because the form signals that the speaker did not mean it, it is also the grammar of apology. 遅れました reports a fact; 遅れてしまって、すみません owns it and shows regret. An apology without it can sound curt.
How to spot it
- てしまう
- てしまった
- でしまう
- ちゃう
- ちゃった
- じゃう
- じゃった
Example sentences
寝坊して、会議に遅れてしまいました。I overslept and ended up late for the meeting.
大切なデータを消してしまいました。I deleted some important data by mistake.
友達から借りた本をなくしてしまった。I've lost the book I borrowed from a friend.
映画が悲しくて、泣いてしまいました。The film was so sad that I cried.
今日の仕事は午前中にやってしまいます。I'll get today's work done in the morning.
あ、電車が行っちゃった。Oh no, the train's gone.
7 more example sentences
約束を忘れてしまって、すみません。I'm sorry I forgot our appointment.
子どもがジュースをこぼしてしまいました。My child spilt some juice.
急いでいたので、転んでしまいました。I was in a hurry and fell over.
この手紙、先に出しちゃうね。I'll just post this letter first, OK?
財布を落としてしまったみたいです。I seem to have dropped my wallet.
つい食べすぎてしまいました。I ended up eating too much.
もう時間がないから、急いで書いちゃおう。There's no time left, so let's just write it quickly.
Worth knowing (1)
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Saying sorry with てしまう
An apology in Japanese usually names the thing that went wrong, and てしまう is the form it is named in: it shows the speaker did not mean it and is sorry it happened. In formal apologies it combines with humble language.
お待たせしてしまって、申し訳ありません。I am very sorry to have kept you waiting.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
The contraction follows the te-form: て becomes ちゃ, and で becomes じゃ. 飲んで therefore gives 飲んじゃう, never 飲んちゃう.
てしまう means done for good — and, very often, done and regretted.
Your turn
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