～(て) しまう
～(て) しまう
to end up ~
Teshimau (～(て) しまう) is an irregular verb meaning "to end up ~". Its polite form is しまいます (shimaimasu), its te form is しまって (shimatte), its past form is しまった (shimatta), and its negative form is しまわない (shimawanai).
Irregular verbJLPT N4
Teshimau (～(て) しまう) conjugation quick reference
～(て) しまう means "to end up ~". Its main forms are listed below, with links to the grammar pattern behind each form.
Teshimau example sentences
宿題を忘れてしまいました。
I ended up forgetting my homework.
彼に嘘をついてしまうかもしれません。
I might end up lying to him.
お菓子を全部食べてしまった。
I ended up eating all the snacks.
How to use Teshimau: grammar notes
•Use ～てしまう after the て-form of a verb to show something happened completely or unexpectedly, often with regret or surprise — like saying "I ended up doing it" or "Oops, I did it."
•In casual speech, ～てしまう often becomes ～ちゃう (for verbs ending in て) or ～じゃう (for verbs ending in で), but avoid using these in formal situations.
•Don’t forget to include the correct particle before the verb — for example, with 飲む (to drink), say お酒を飲んでしまった (I ended up drinking alcohol), using を to mark the object.
•JLPT N4 level
Common phrases with Teshimau
忘れてしまった
I (unintentionally) forgot
お金を使ってしまった
I ended up spending the money
寝てしまった
I accidentally fell asleep
Teshimau (～(て) しまう) conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Forms | ||
| Dictionary Form | しまう | shimau |
| Masu Form | しまいます | shimaimasu |
| Te Form | しまって | shimatte |
| Past Form | しまった | shimatta |
| Negative Form | しまわない | shimawanai |
| Past Negative | しまわなかった | shimawanakatta |
| Polite Forms | ||
| Polite Present | しまいます | shimaimasu |
| Polite Past | しました | shimashita |
| Polite Negative | しません | shimasen |
| Polite Past Negative | しませんでした | shimasendeshita |
| Advanced Forms | ||
| Potential Form | しまえる | shimaeru |
| Passive Form | しまわれる | shimawareru |
| Causative Form | しまわせる | shimawaseru |
| Causative Passive | しまわされる | shimawasareru |
| Volitional Form | しまおう | shimaou |
| Imperative Form | しまえ | shimae |
| Conditional Forms | ||
| Conditional (ば) | しまえば | shimaeba |
| Conditional (たら) | しまったら | shimattara |
| Other Forms | ||
| Progressive Form | しまっている | shimatteiru |
| Desire (たい) | しまいたい | shimaitai |
| Prohibition | しまうな | shimauna |