～てしまう
To Regret
Regret
Verb て form ＋ しまう
The most common usage of てしまう is to express regret or sadness. Since it expresses feeling about something, It is typically used in and about the past tense; however it can be used in the present/future tense with conditionals.
Examples
- ばれてしまった – It got found out (accidentally)
- 食べてしまった – I ate it (oops)
- 気を付けないとふんでしまうよ – If you aren’t careful, you’re going to step in it.
- てきを助けてしまった – I accidentally saved the enemy. (Regret/now I have a problem)
There doesn’t have to be an intent behind the てしまう action.
- 道に迷ってしまった – I got lost.
- 寝てしまいました – I slept (fell asleep).
- 好きなアニメが終わってしまった – My favorite anime finished.
To finish
To finish
Verb て form ＋ しまう
“To Finish” is actually the original meaning of てしまう. However it is rarer than the “regret” meaning above.
Because てしまう can be ambiguous as to whether it is “completed” or “regret, context is important.
The finish meaning of てしまう is usually paired with words like “全部, 完全 or もう” that mean all/already to make it clearer.
Examples
- 本を読んでしまった – I read the book (fully or accidentally).
- 宿題を全部やってしまいました – I completely did my homework. (good thing, so probably not “oops”.)
- 全部食べてしまいました – Ate all of (something).
- もう電話してしまいました – I already (finished) calling.
- 試合は終わってしまいました – The match completely finished.
- 宿題をやってしまいましょう – Let’s finish our homework.
ちゃう・じゃう
てしまう can change into ちゃう, and でしまう can turn into じゃう。
These sound changes are the result of combining sounds, something like this:
- て→ち→＋あう→ちゃう
- でし→じ＋あう→じゃう
The meaning becomes more informal, but otherwise stays the same.
Examples
- 食べちゃう – Eat (something)
- 読んじゃう – Read (completely)