Grammar › Outcome & Result
ずじまい — “ended up not doing (despite meaning to)”
Describes an intended action that, in the end, never actually happened
Verb's negative-stem (nai-form minus ない) + じまい says that despite an intention or opportunity, an action ended up never happening at all — “ended up not doing X (after all).” It carries a note of mild regret or missed opportunity.
How to form it
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| Nai-stem + ずじまい | 結局言えずじまいだった — In the end, I never got around to saying it |
Example sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 旅行中、結局その店には行けずじまいだった。 | りょこうちゅう、けっきょくそのみせにはいけずじまいだった。 ryokouchuu、kekkyokusonomisenihaikezujimaidatta。 | During the trip, I ended up never making it to that shop after all. |
| 聞きたかったことを聞けずじまいで別れた。 | ききたかったことをきけずじまいでわかれた。 kikitakattakotowokikezujimaidewakareta。 | We parted ways, and I never got to ask what I wanted to. |
| 本を買ったものの、結局読まずじまいだった。 | ほんをかったものの、けっきょくよまずじまいだった。 honwokattamonono、kekkyokuyomazujimaidatta。 | I bought the book, but in the end I never got around to reading it. |
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Watch out
する doesn't become しずじまい — as with ざるを得ない and ずにはいられない, the irregular negative stem せ is used: せずじまい (never got around to doing).