〜てしまう
Conjugation:end up doing / completely
Says that an action is completely finished, or that something happened that you regret or did not mean to do.
Conjugation rules
Examples
ichidan
忘れる(to forget)忘れてしまう
godan
読む(to read)読んでしまう
行く(to go)行ってしまう
Example sentences
宿題を忘れてしまいました。
Oh no, I forgot my homework.
本を全部読んでしまった。
I read the whole book.
Notes
- Context tells you which meaning is meant. With a mistake or an accident it expresses regret; with words like 全部 (all) it is usually about finishing.
- It can also mean you did something without meaning to: 笑ってしまった (I couldn't help laughing).
Common mistakes
- Assuming it is always negative. 全部食べてしまった can simply mean you finished it all.