JLPT N4 Grammar – The two uses of “〜てしまう”
Table of Contents
1. The two uses of “〜てしまう”
2. 〜てしまう①
3. 〜てしまう②
4. The shortened form of “〜てしまう”
5. Let’s Compare
6. Summary
7. Similer Articles
8. Comment
Q: I don’t really understand how to use “〜てしまう.”
A: “〜てしまう” has two different meanings: the first is completion, and the second is regret. The distinction may feel a little difficult at first, but we will also introduce common words that are often used together with it, so try to learn them as a set.
〜てしまう① (JLPT N4)
[Meaning]
Indicates that an action is completely finished
[Rule]
[V] Verb て form + しまう
[Words often used together]
読む (read), する (do), 終わる (finish), できる (be able to)
もう (already), 全部 (all), 早く (quickly), etc.
[Examples]
ここにあった本は全部、読んでしまいました。
I finished reading all the books that were here.
会議の前に頼まれた仕事は終わらせてしまいました。
I finished the work I was asked to do before the meeting.
もっと時間がかかると思ったけど、早くできてしまいました。
I thought it would take more time, but I was able to finish it quickly.
“〜てしまう” is used when you want to emphasize that something has been completely finished.
However, if there is no need for such emphasis, using it may sound unnatural, so caution is needed.
[Examples]
いつも午前中に家事を済ませてしまいます。
I always finish all the housework in the morning.
⇒ This emphasizes that all the housework is completed in the morning.
8月中旬までに宿題を終わらせてしまいます。
I will finish my homework by mid-August.
急ぐので書類は早く書いてしまってください。
Please write the documents quickly, since it’s urgent.
[Unnatural Usage]
× みんなで食事してしまいましょう。
〇 みんなで食事しましょう。
Let’s have a meal together.
× A: この件について、分かりましたか。
× B: はい、分かってしまいました。
〇 B: はい、分かりました。
A: Did you understand this matter?
B: Yes, I understood it.
[When used together with quantity]
When used with words that indicate quantity, it emphasizes that a large amount was finished in a short time.
[Examples]
のどが渇いていたので、1リットルの水を全部飲んでしまいました。
I was so thirsty that I drank a whole liter of water.
⇒ You cannot say “少量の水を全部飲んでしまいました” (I drank all of a small amount of water).
いつもは1時間かかるのに、今日は道が空いていて40分で着いてしまいました。
It usually takes an hour, but today the road was clear and I got there in 40 minutes.
一日で本を20冊、読んでしまいました。
I finished reading 20 books in one day.
〜てしまう② (JLPT N4)
[Meaning]
An expression used when an action is done unintentionally, resulting in feelings of “regret” or “disappointment.”
[Rule]
[V] Verb て form + しまう
[Words often used together]
遅れる (be late), 壊れる (break), 忘れる (forget), 失くす (lose), etc.
[Examples]
走ったけど間に合わなくて、電車が行ってしまいました。
I ran, but I didn’t make it in time and the train left.
買ったばかりなのに、服を汚してしまったよ。
Even though I had just bought it, I ended up staining my clothes.
単語を覚えてもすぐに忘れてしまうんです。
Even if I memorize vocabulary, I soon forget it.
This “〜てしまう” is used to emphasize negative feelings toward failures or unfortunate events. Unlike “〜てしまう ① (completion),” this usage highlights one’s own mistakes or unlucky happenings.
[Examples]
いつも乗るバスに遅れて遅刻してしまいました。
I was late for the bus I usually take and ended up being late for work.
最近買ったイヤリングを失くしてしまったんです。
I lost the earrings I bought recently.
お気に入りのコップを割ってしまいました。
I broke my favorite cup.
The shortened form of “〜てしまう”
In everyday conversation and casual situations, the following shortened forms are often used:
て form＋しまう⇒ ちゃう
してしまう⇒しちゃう
やってしまう⇒やっちゃう
終わってしまう⇒終わっちゃう
で form＋しまう⇒ じゃう
飲んでしまう⇒飲んじゃう
読んでしまう⇒読んじゃう
[Examples]
時間に遅れちゃった。ごめんね。
I was late. Sorry about that.
あの人の名前、何だっけ。忘れちゃった。
What was that person’s name again? I forgot.
あと少しだから、全部やっちゃおう。
There’s only a little left, so let’s just finish it all.
このマンガおもしろいから、全部読んじゃおう。
This manga is interesting, so let’s read the whole thing.
*In the case of the volitional form, “ちゃう” becomes “ちゃおう,” and “じゃう” becomes “じゃおう.”
Let’s Compare
Read the following sentence and decide whether the meaning is “completion” or “regret.”
[Example]
弟にピザを食べられてしまいました。
The correct answer is “regret.”
In this sentence, “〜てしまいました” is used with the meaning of “regret/disappointment.”
Furthermore, the passive form “〜られる” here is a usage called the “owner’s passive.” In other words, the event “my younger brother ate the pizza” expresses that the speaker (the owner of the pizza) experienced an unpleasant feeling as a result.
In this case, it does not simply state the fact that “my brother ate the pizza,” but emphasizes the regretful feeling of “the pizza I was looking forward to was taken from me.”
[Examples]
Completion：ピザを全部食べてしまいました。
I ate all the pizza.
⇒ This emphasizes that I finished eating the pizza myself.
Regret：弟にピザを食べられてしまいました。
My younger brother ate the pizza.
⇒ This emphasizes that I had an unpleasant experience because of someone else’s action.
In this way, “〜てしまう” has two meanings—“completion” and “regret”—even though the form is the same. It is important to judge which meaning is intended based on the context and the verbs or expressions used together with it.
If you would like to learn more
about how the passive form is used,
please read this article.
Summary
The two uses of “〜てしまう”
① To express completion
- Used when emphasizing that something has been “completely finished.”
- If there is no need for emphasis, using it may sound unnatural.
- When used together with words indicating quantity, it emphasizes finishing “a large amount in a short time.”
② To express regret
- Used for actions done unintentionally or for undesirable results.
- When combined with the passive form (“owner passive”), it further emphasizes the feeling of regret or disappointment.
The shortened form of “〜てしまう”
- In everyday conversation, it is often shortened:
- “〜てしまう” ⇒ “〜ちゃう”
- “〜でしまう” ⇒ “〜じゃう”
Similer Articles
- JLPT N2・N4 Grammar – The difference between ”〜にくい”, ”〜づらい” and “〜がたい”
- JLPT N4・N5 Vocabulary – The difference between “聞けない” and “聞こえない”
- JLPT N4・N5 Grammar – The difference between “〜けど” and “〜のに”
- JLPT N3・N4 Grammar – The difference between “〜ように” and “〜通りに”
- JLPT N4 Vocabulary – The difference between “何でも” and “何も”
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