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しまつだ — “ended up in such a sorry state, it came to this”

JLPT N1 Outcome & Result

Delivers a critical final verdict on a chain of events that spiraled somewhere bad

A plain-form clause + しまつだ delivers a disapproving final summary of how a situation deteriorated — “and in the end, it came to this (sorry state).” It usually follows a description of escalating problems, capping them off with a judgmental “and that's where we ended up.”

How to form it

PatternExample
Plain form + しまつだ何度も注意したのに、最後には喧嘩になるしまつだ — Despite repeated warnings, it ended up turning into a fight

Example sentences

JapaneseReadingMeaning
かれはいつもちこくし、ついにはむだんけっきんするしまつだ。
karehaitsumochikokushi、tsuinihamudankekkinsurushimatsuda。
He was always late, and it ended with him not showing up at all, without notice.
けいかくはつぎつぎにくるい、さいしゅうてきにはちゅうしになるしまつだった。
keikakuhatsugitsuginikurui、saishuutekinihachuushininarushimatsudatta。
The plan kept falling apart, and it ended with the whole thing being cancelled.
たすけてあげたのに、うらまれるしまつだ。
tasuketeagetanoni、uramarerushimatsuda。
I helped him out, and somehow ended up being resented for it.

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Watch out

しまつだ always closes out a story that's gone badly, with a tone of exasperation or disappointment — it's never used for a neutral or happy conclusion.

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