Unintended Actions

Sometimes we do things that we didn't mean to and there are a couple ways we can express actions that we did not intend to take.

We can use the noun for intention to express what was or wasn't intended.

• つもり - intention; plan

Example

1. 後で買い物をしに行くつもりです。
   (I) intend on going to do shopping later.
2. 夜に出かけるつもりはないので、心配はいりません。
   (I) don't intent on going out at night so (you) don't need (to) worry.
3. 先生に教えるつもりはなかったんだよ。
   (I) didn't intend on telling the teacher, you know.

However, 「つもり」 only describes an intent regardless of actual actions taken. There is another verb that is used to express an action that is taken by accident or unintentionally: 「しまう」

Using 「しまう」 for unintended actions

The verb 「しまう」 has two main definitions: 1) to finish; to do something completely and 2) for something unintended to happen. The latter definition is used for situations when you did something you didn't mean to do. To use this with other verbs, attach 「しまう」 to the te-form of the verb.

Example

1. しまった！宿題を持ってくるのを忘れた！
   Oh no! (I) forgot to bring (my) homework!
2. もう起きてしまった事は仕方ないよ。
   There's nothing you can do about something that already happened (unintentionally).
3. 我慢ができないからついつい買ってしまうんですよ。
   (I) can't resist so (I) unintentionally end up buying (it).

Casual version of 「～てしまう」

In casual speech, the 「～てしまう」 can be substituted by 「～ちゃう」 while 「～でしまう」 is substituted by 「じゃう」. Both 「～ちゃう」 and 「～じゃう」 conjugate just like regular u-verbs.

Example

1. もう注文しちゃったけど、どうする？
   (I) already ordered (oops) so what should (we) do?
2. 彼女を元彼女の名前で呼んじゃったよ！
   (I) called my girlfriend by my ex-girlfriend's name (by accident)!
3. もう分かっちゃった事は忘れられないでしょう？
   (I) can't forget something that I already learned (unintentionally) right?

There is also a much less common casual version of 「～てしまう」 and 「～でしまう」 that sounds much more rough and coarse and is usually only used by older males. This version replaces 「～てしまう」 and 「～でしまう」 with 「～ちまう」 and 「～じまう」 respectively. The result is conjugated the same as any u-verb.

Example

1. また連絡するのを忘れちまったのかよ？
   Did (you) forget to contact (me) again?
2. 悪い、お前をメールを読んじまったよ。
   Sorry, (I) read your email (by accident).