N4-G-013
Verbて＋しまいます (Completion / Regret)
Core / Result & Emotion
👀 Layer A: Visual Guide
📝 Quick Summary
This grammar point has two main meanings: 1) To finish an action completely, or 2) To do something accidentally with a sense of regret. It is formed by adding “shimaimasu” (or the past “shimaimashita”) to the Te-form of a verb.
Structure: [Verb て-form] + しまいます / しまいました。
Example 1 (Completion): ぜんぶ たべて しまいました (I ate it all up).
Example 2 (Regret): かばんを わすれて しまいました (I unfortunately forgot my bag).
🔗 Connected Grammar:
🔍 Layer B: Deepening
💡 Raya’s Hack
How to tell the difference?
Context is everything!
1. If you see words like 「ぜんぶ (all)」 or 「もう (already)」, it usually means Completion.
2. If the result is something bad (losing something, being late, breaking something), it’s Regret.
In spoken Japanese, people often use the shortened “~chau” (Tabechatta!) to sound more natural when they make a mistake.
🚧 Joy’s Mistake
Scene: Joy is talking about his weekend plans.
Joy: 「こんしゅう、えいがを みて しまいます！」
(Konshuu, eiga o mite shimaimasu!)
⚠️ Careful with the Nuance!
Why?
Using “shimaimasu” for a future plan can sound like you are going to do it by mistake or you are forced to do it. If it’s just a normal plan you are looking forward to, just say: 「えいがを みます」. Save “shimaimasu” for when you finish a long series or when you accidentally watch a spoiler!
🔥 Layer C: Practice Loop
Test your understanding of completion and regret!
Level 1: Completion (Finished doing X)
Q1. I finished eating it all. (たべる)
Q2. I finished reading this book. (よむ)
Q3. I drank all the water. (のむ)
Q4. I finished my homework already. (しゅくだい、する)
Q5. I wrote all the letters. (てがみ、かく)
Level 2: Regret (Accidentally did X)
Q6. I unfortunately forgot my umbrella. (かさ、わすれる)
Q7. I accidentally lost my wallet. (さいふ、なくす)
Q8. The glass broke (unintentionally). (こわれる)
Q9. I accidentally said it. (いう)
Q10. I made a mistake. (まちがえる)
