Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Indicates that an action or event that was expected, planned, or desired did not happen in the end.
🎯 Primary Function
To express regret, disappointment, or simply the state of something being left undone or unattempted.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb in ない form (drop い) + ずじまい
Verb する becomes せずじまい
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Can be used in formal contexts, though it might retain a slightly personal or reflective nuance.
Informal Situations
Frequently used in informal conversation to express personal regret or describe a situation.
Written Language
Commonly found in written narratives, essays, and less formal articles.
Spoken Language
Very common in everyday conversation.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing regret over missed opportunities.
When you wanted to do something but couldn’t.
Example: 忙しくて、結局彼に会えずじまいだった。 (I was so busy that I ended up not being able to meet him.)
Describing unfinished tasks or projects.
When something was started or planned but not completed.
Example: そのプロジェクトは資金不足で、実現せずじまいに終わった。 (That project ended up not being realized due to lack of funds.)
Talking about unread books, unwatched movies, etc.
Commonly used for passive consumption where the intended action (reading, watching) didn’t happen.
Example: 買った本が多すぎて、一冊も読まずじまいだ。 (I bought too many books and ended up not reading a single one.)
Frequency
Relatively common in everyday Japanese, especially when reflecting on past events.
Difficulty
Advanced (N1)
Example Sentences
楽しみにしていた海外旅行は、コロナの影響で中止になり、行かずじまいだった。
The overseas trip I was looking forward to was cancelled due to the pandemic, and I ended up not being able to go.
忙しくて、友達に借りた本を返せずじまいだ。
I’ve been so busy that I ended up not returning the book I borrowed from my friend.
結局、言いたいことがたくさんあったのに、何も言わずじまいで終わってしまった。
In the end, even though there was a lot I wanted to say, it finished with me saying nothing.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Implies an intended action that did not happen.
The nuance is that the action was planned or expected, unlike a simple negative statement.
Example: 公園に行かなかった (I didn’t go to the park) vs. 公園に行かずじまいだった (I ended up not going to the park [though I might have intended to]).
Often carries a sense of regret or incompleteness.
While not always strong regret, there’s usually a feeling that something was left unfinished or missed.
Example: 連絡（れんらく）しようと思（おも）っていたけど、忙しくて連絡せずじまいだった。 (I intended to contact them, but I was busy and ended up not contacting them [implies slight regret]).
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using with adjectives or nouns.
✅ ずじまい only attaches to the negative stem of verbs.
It directly follows the archaic negative verb form.
❌ Confusing with simple negative forms.
✅ Understand the nuance of unfulfilled intent/outcome.
ずじまい adds the specific meaning of “ending up without doing something” or “leaving something undone”.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral to slightly informal depending on context, but can be used in relatively formal settings to describe outcomes.
Social Situations: Often used when reflecting on personal plans, experiences, or outcomes.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese.
🔍 Subtle Differences
～なかった (didn’t do)
Simple negation of a past action.
When to use: When simply stating that an action did not occur.
～ずに終わった (ended up without doing)
Similar meaning, perhaps slightly more formal or descriptive of the final state.
When to use: Very similar; ずじまい might be slightly more colloquial or focus more on the “left undone” feeling.
～そこねる (to fail to do, to miss a chance)
Focuses on failing to do something, often due to a mistake or missed opportunity.
When to use: When the failure is the main point, often implying a degree of error.
📝 Conjugation Notes
Review the archaic negative form ～ず (particularly する -> せず).
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounced “zujimai”. The じ is like “ji” in “jigsaw”.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of じまい as “ending” or “finishing”. So, “not doing and ending that way”.
Practice Exercises
旅行に行く予定だったが、急病で＿＿＿＿。
行けずじまいだった
行けたじまいだった
行かないじまいだった
行かれるじまいだった
この企画（きかく）は準備（じゅんび）に時間がかかり、結局＿＿＿＿。
完成しずじまいだった
完成せずじまいだった
完成せずじまいにした
完成するじまいだった
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