「〜でしまう/ちゃう」- Indicating Completion of an Action
Explanation
〜でしまう/ちゃう is a commonly used grammatical structure in Japanese that indicates the completion of an action. The pronunciations are 「でしまう」(de shimau) and 「ちゃう」(chau). They are typically attached to the て-form of a verb to express that an action has been completed or to convey an unexpected outcome.
Grammar Pattern
| Grammar Point | Connection | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 〜でしまう | Verb て-form + でしまう | Indicates the completion of an action or an unexpected result. |
| 〜ちゃう | Verb て-form + ちゃう | Colloquial form, indicating the completion of an action. |
Basic Usage
| Form | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 〜でしまう | Indicates the completion of an action. |
| 〜ちゃう | Colloquial form, indicating the completion of an action. |
Examples
彼 は宿題 を終 えてしまった。- Kare wa shukudai o oete shimatta.
- He has finished his homework.
- あ、
大変 、急 いで来 たから財布 を忘 れちゃった。 - A, taihen, isoide kita kara saifu o wasurechatta.
- Oh no, I was in such a hurry that I forgot my wallet.
Deep Dive
〜でしまう and 〜ちゃう can indicate the completion of an action, but they can also carry a sense of regret or disappointment. Below, we’ll explore their different usages in detail.
1. Completion of an Action
This usage indicates that an action has been fully completed.
彼 は本 を読 み終 えてしまった。- Kare wa hon o yomi oete shimatta.
- He has finished reading the book.
ケーキ を全部 食 べてしまった。- Keeki o zenbu tabete shimatta.
- I ate all the cake.
2. Expressing Regret or Disappointment
In this usage, the completion of the action carries a sense of regret or disappointment.
重要 なファイル を削除 してしまった。- Juuyou na fairu o sakujoshite shimatta.
- I accidentally deleted the important file.
電車 に乗 り遅 れてしまった。- Densha ni nori okurete shimatta.
- I missed the train.
Colloquial Forms
In spoken language, 〜でしまう is often shortened to 〜ちゃう, and 〜でしまった is shortened to 〜ちゃった.
忘 れてしまった →忘 れちゃった。- Wasurete shimatta → Wasurechatta.
- I forgot.
全部 食 べてしまった →全部 食 べちゃった。- Zenbu tabete shimatta → Zenbu tabechatta.
- I ate it all.
Comparison and Differences
〜でしまう and 〜ちゃう are very similar in usage, but there are some subtle differences.
1. 〜でしまう vs. 〜ちゃう
〜でしまう and 〜ちゃう are essentially the same, but 〜ちゃう is more colloquial.
宿題 を終 えてしまった。- Shukudai o oete shimatta.
- I finished my homework.
宿題 を終 えちゃった。- Shukudai o oechatta.
- I finished my homework.
2. 〜てしまう vs. 〜ている
〜てしまう indicates that an action has been completed, while 〜ている indicates that an action is ongoing or a state is continuing.
もう 食 べてしまった。- Mou tabete shimatta.
- I already ate.
まだ 食 べている。- Mada tabete iru.
- I’m still eating.
Real-Life Scenarios
In everyday conversations, 〜でしまう and 〜ちゃう are widely used. Here are some common dialogue examples:
- A: どうしたの？
- Dou shita no?
- What’s wrong?
- B:
大変 だ、財布 を忘 れちゃった。 - Taihen da, saifu o wasurechatta.
- Oh no, I forgot my wallet.
- A:
もう 終 わった？ - Mou owatta?
- Is it already over?
- B: うん、
宿題 を全部 やっちゃった。 - Un, shukudai o zenbu yachatta.
- Yes, I’ve already finished all my homework.
Summary
This article introduced the basic usage, deep dive, and real-life applications of 〜でしまう/ちゃう. This grammatical structure is used to indicate the completion of an action or an unexpected outcome, often with a sense of regret or disappointment. Mastering this grammar point will help improve the accuracy and expressiveness of your Japanese.