てしまう / ちゃう
🃏 Flashcard
てしまう / ちゃう
te shimau / chau
Tap to reveal usage
to do something by accident, to finish
N4
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📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N4
Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences
Reading
te shimau / chau
Post ID
50782
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
to do something by accident, to finish
📖 How to use it
Expresses that an action was completed, often with a sense of regret, or that something happened unintentionally.
Attaches to
Attach to the て-form of a verb: verbて + しまう. In casual speech, てしまう often contracts to ちゃう (for て), and でしまう to じゃう (for で).
This pattern has two main uses. One is to express that an action is completed or finished, often with a nuance of finality. The other, and more common in daily conversation, is to express that something happened unintentionally, accidentally, or regrettably—something you didn't mean to do or wish hadn't happened. For example, if you spill coffee on your shirt, you'd say コーヒーをこぼしてしまった, conveying your misfortune. It can also be used when you finish something you were reluctant to do, like eating a whole cake when you were on a diet.
大事なメールを消してしまった。
Daiji na mēru o keshite shimatta.
I ended up deleting an important email.
お母さんが作ってくれたケーキを全部食べてしまった。
Okāsan ga tsukutte kureta kēki o zenbu tabete shimatta.
I ate all the cake my mom made for me.
電車の中で寝てしまって、駅を乗り過ごした。
Densha no naka de nete shimatte, eki o norisugoshita.
I fell asleep on the train and missed my stop.
Not ておく (te oku)
ておく means to do something in advance or as preparation, like 窓を開けておく (open the window beforehand). てしまう focuses on the completion or the accidental/unfortunate result, not on preparation.
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Both てしまう and the contracted forms ちゃう/じゃう are common in everyday spoken Japanese; てしまう is a bit more neutral, while ちゃう is casual and friendly. In formal writing, use てしまう without contraction.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
てしまう / ちゃう
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat てしまう / ちゃう three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using てしまう / ちゃう. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N4 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern てしまう / ちゃう mean?
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To do something by accident, to finish
What JLPT level is てしまう / ちゃう?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use てしまう / ちゃう in a sentence?
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Attach てしまう / ちゃう (te shimau / chau) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is てしまう / ちゃう formal or casual Japanese?
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てしまう / ちゃう is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember てしまう / ちゃう long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.