~(て) しまう

~(て) しまう · ~(te) shimau · JLPT N4 · noun

to end up ~

しまう = to put away, finish off: the deed is done, no undo

しまう on its own means to put away or close up. Attached to a て-form verb, it marks the action as fully finished, often by accident or with regret: 食べてしまう = to end up eating it all. Casual speech shrinks it to ちゃう.

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