〜てしまう

〜てしまう has two main meanings. The first is completely finishing something: 宿題をやってしまいました (I finished all my homework). This meaning often pairs with 全部 and もう, and carries a feeling of "done and dusted, nothing left unfinished".

The second is accidentally doing something unintended, with a sense of regret: 財布を忘れてしまいました (I went and forgot my wallet). Which meaning applies depends on context: verbs describing deliberate actions usually mean "finished completely", while mishap verbs (忘れる, なくす, 壊れる) usually mean "regrettably ended up".

In spoken language, 〜てしまう contracts to 〜ちゃう and 〜でしまう to 〜じゃう: 食べてしまった → 食べちゃった, 飲んでしまった → 飲んじゃった. These contractions are very casual and aren't used in formal situations.

Examples

• 宿題(しゅくだい)は全部(ぜんぶ)やってしまいました。

  I've finished all my homework.

• 電車(でんしゃ)に財布(さいふ)を忘(わす)れてしまいました。

  I accidentally left my wallet on the train.

• ケーキを全部(ぜんぶ)食(た)べちゃった。

  I went and ate the whole cake.

Related patterns

• 〜ておく
• 普通体の会話