Learn Japanese grammar: てしまう (te shimau) & ちゃう (chau). Meaning: to do something by accident, to finish completely.
This may in some cases also express regret, but not always.
てしまう (te shimau)
This is the standard version:
- てしまう = to do by accident / to finish
- てしまった = did by accident / finished
- てしまいました = did by accident / finished (more formal)
ちゃう/じゃう (chau / jau)
This is the more casual version, which instead uses a verb’s stem form:
- ちゃう = to do by accident / to finish (casual)
- ちゃった = did by accident / finished (casual)
NOTE: If the verb’s dictionary form ends with ぶ (bu) , む (mu) , ぬ (nu) or ぐ (gu), it becomes じゃう (jau) or じゃった (jatta).
- じゃう = to do by accident / to finish (casual)
- じゃった = did by accident / finished (casual)
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てしまう / ちゃう - Example Sentences 例文
Each example sentence includes a Japanese hint, the romaji reading, and the English translation.
Click the below red button to toggle off and and on all of the hints, and you can click on the buttons individually to show only the ones you want to see.
Example #1
仕事は全部終わってしまいました。
Example #2
疲れが出たので、寝ちゃった。
Example #3
パスポートをなくしてしまいました。
Example #4
漢字の宿題はもうやってしまいました。
Example #5
明日までに宿題をしちゃいます。
Example #6
ごめん！ジュースを全部飲んじゃった！
Example #7
昼ごはんまでにレポートを書いてしまいました。
Example #8
兄はケーキを食べてしまいました。
Example #9
失敗するのを気にしたら、まちがいなく失敗してしまう。
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