Kumi logo
    Kumi

    Learn Japanese. Where understanding folds into fluency.

    Dictionary

    KanjiKanji vocabularyKana vocabularyKanaRadicalsGrammarJLPT N5

    Learn

    GuidesStart where you areWhat is KMT?RoadmapFAQ

    Connect

    EmailDiscordInstagramThreadsTikTokYouTubeLinkedInBlueskyX

    Newsletter

    Start learning free →

    Free forever tier. No card required.

    © 2026 Kumiai Inc. All rights reserved.

    AboutFAQContactStatusPrivacyTermsAttributions
    Dictionary
    1. Dictionary
    2. Grammar
    3. 〜てしまう (transitive)

    〜てしまう (transitive)

    〜てしまう (transitive)

    This means you finish doing something. You do it completely. There is nothing left to do.

    N4KMT4NeutralStandardAuxiliary ConstructionMixedControlling Verb TransitivityGrammar

    Verb [て-form] + しまうPrimary

    This means you finish doing something. You do it completely. There is nothing left to do.

    夏なつ休やすみが終おわる前まえに、この分ぶ厚あつい本ほんを全ぜん部ぶ読よんでしまうつもりだ。

    I plan to finish reading this entire thick book before summer vacation ends.

    NeutralNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingVolitionalEducationDaily LifeLiterature
    弟おとうとのケーキ、うっかり食たべちゃった。

    Oops, I accidentally ate my little brother's cake.

    CasualPastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeFood & DiningFamily & Relationships
    お客きゃく様さまに頼たのまれた資し料りょうは、昨きの日うすべて作さく成せいしてしまいました。

    I finished preparing all the documents the client requested yesterday.

    PolitePastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeWork & CareerBusiness & Finance
    大だい事じなパスワードを忘わすれてしまわないように、どこかにメモしておこう。

    Let's write it down somewhere so I don't end up forgetting the important password.

    NeutralNon PastNegativeMid SentenceVolitionalTechnologyInternet & Social Media
    彼かれは会かい社しゃのお金かねをすべて使つかってしまった。

    He went and used up all of the company's money.

    NeutralPastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeBusiness & FinanceWork & Career

    This grammar shows two feelings. It can mean you finished something completely. Or, it can mean something bad happened by accident. Think of it like a coin with two sides. The words around it tell you which side it is.

    This is different from 〜ておく. Both use the 〜て form. But 〜てしまう means you finished something. It is done. 〜ておく means you do something to prepare. You do it for later. One is about finishing. The other is about getting ready.

    Use this when you want to show you finished something completely. It means you did it all. It can also show a strong feeling about what happened.

    Contrasts with(1)

    〜てしまう (intransitive)

    This means something happened all by itself. It often shows you are surprised or unhappy about it.

    て形

    This is a special form of words. You use it to connect actions or ideas. It can mean "and then," "because," or "by doing something."

    〜てしまう / 〜でしまう

    This grammar shows an action happened by accident. It also shows something regrettable or irreversible happened.

    他動詞 (e.g., 開ける)

    This verb shows an action. Someone does something to an object. You often use the particle "o" (を) with the object.

    Kumi logo

    Track your mastery

    Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

    Related concepts for this entry

    contrasts_with

    • 〜てしまう (intransitive)

    prerequisite

    • て形
    • 〜てしまう / 〜でしまう
    • 他動詞 (e.g., 開ける)

    Explore more

    Grammar dictionary›Browse all entries›