We can use the te form with the group 1 verb しまう to express regret at an action.

【Verb: te Form】しまう
友達ともだちとの約束やくそくをすっかりとわすれてしまう。
Completely forget about an appointment with a friend.
そのとき冷静れいせいかんがえていなくて、ひどいことをうっかりとってしまったよ。
I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time and I mindlessly said something horrible.

Note the te form is used with the present participle in the first clause.

家事かじをして、大事だいじなものをてしまいました。
I did the house chores and accidentally threw out something important.

The word “accidentally” isn’t explicitly used in the above sentence, but the use of しまう suitably expresses the nuance of regret so it is fair to assume that you didn’t mean to throw the item away.

学生がくせいのうちに、ちゃんと勉強べんきょうしなければ後悔こうかいしてしまうよ。
If you don’t study hard while you’re a student you’ll come to regret it.
それをやっちゃってはいけないことだよ。
You’re not allowed to do that.

〜てしまう can only be used to express regret at an action has been or will be performed; it cannot be used with the negative te form to express regret at having not done something.

パーティではなしたおんな電話番号でんわばんごうかないでしまった。(✘)
[I wish I had asked the girl I spoke to at the party for her phone number.]

Instead we would use the conditional with the past tense of good to say, “it would be good if I had done x”.

パーティではなしたおんな電話番号でんわばんごうけばよかった。
I wish I had asked the girl I spoke to at the party for her phone number.

This structure can also be used to express completion; however, this is a more minor usage. In the vast majority of cases when you hear ~てしまう it will be to express regret.

なかいていて、ケーキを三つみっつべてしまった。
I was hungry and so finished three whole cakes.
飛行機ひこうきほん3冊さんさつんでしまいました。
To read three books on the airplane.

In casual conversation you will often hear an altered form of 〜てしまう.

  • Verbs with the te form ending 〜て ⇒ ちゃう
  • Verbs with the te form ending 〜で ⇒ じゃう
どっかで財布さいふをなくしちゃったみたい。
It seems I lost my wallet somewhere.
むすめ毎日まいにち友達ともだちあそんじゃってて、宿題しゅくだいとかは全然ぜんぜんやらないのよ。
My daughter is hanging out with her friends every day.
You May Also Like

ばかり vs だらけ

So what’s the difference? Both phrases have a negative connotation and both can be used to say there…

The Passive (される)

First of all, a quick reminder of what we mean by the passive. Present Passive to approve to…

Nothing But

ばかり is used to say “nothing but”. It is typically used in conversation rather than formal writing. 【Noun】ばかり…

The Directional Particle (へ)

The directional particle へ could be said to be a more literary version of the target particle に…