The core meaning
旅行中に友達に会うつもりだったが、会わずじまいだった means the trip ended without the planned meeting. The expression usually implies an intention, chance or expectation that did not materialize. It has a retrospective feel: the relevant period is over, and the speaker is summing up the omission, often with disappointment or mild regret.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 旅行中に友達に会おうと思ったが、会わずじまいだった。 | Ryokōchū ni tomodachi ni aō to omotta ga, awazu jimai datta. | I meant to meet a friend on the trip, but never did. |
| その本は最後まで読まずじまいでした。 | Sono hon wa saigo made yomazu jimai deshita. | I never got around to finishing that book. |
How to form it
Use the negative verb stem plus ずじまい: 会わない → 会わずじまい, 買わない → 買わずじまい. する is irregular: せずじまい. じまい derives from しまい, 'end', and may be followed by だった, になる or で終わる. The expression is not a simple replacement for ない in present-time refusal.
| Use | Japanese form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Regular verb | 会わずじまい | Ended without meeting |
| する | 連絡せずじまい | Ended without contacting |
| Past outcome | 買わずじまいだった | Never got around to buying it |
Natural examples
Read each sentence for the relationship between the first idea and the second. The English translation gives a natural meaning, while the Japanese wording shows exactly where the pattern attaches.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 忙しくて、結局お礼の手紙を書かずじまいだった。 | Isogashikute, kekkyoku orei no tegami o kakazu jimai datta. | I was busy and ended up never writing a thank-you letter. |
| 店が閉まり、欲しかったものを買わずじまいになった。 | Mise ga shimari, hoshikatta mono o kawazu jimai ni natta. | The shop closed, so I never bought the thing I wanted. |
Compare the nearby pattern
友達に会わなかった reports non-occurrence. 友達に会わずじまいだった adds that the period ended with the meeting still unrealized. ないまま describes remaining in a state without doing something and need not imply that the chance is already over.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 旅行中、友達には会わなかった。 | Ryokōchū, tomodachi ni wa awanakatta. | I did not meet my friend during the trip. |
| 旅行中、友達には会わずじまいだった。 | Ryokōchū, tomodachi ni wa awazu jimai datta. | The trip ended without the meeting I had hoped for. |
The two examples may describe similar situations, but they lead the listener to different conclusions. Choose the form that matches the claim you really intend to make.
Common mistake to avoid
Do not say しずじまい for する. The correct negative stem is せず, so use 連絡せずじまいだった. Also avoid using ずじまい for an action still possible later today; wait until the opportunity or period has ended.
- A hoped-for action remained undone
- Use negative stem + ずじまい
- する becomes せずじまい
- Often looks back with regret
Try it yourself
Recall a book, visit or message you intended to complete during a finished period. State the intention first, then use ずじまい for what never happened.
Say your sentence once slowly while looking at the Japanese pattern. Then say it again without reading. If your second clause changes from a possibility to a fact, or from advice to a requirement, revise it so the grammar still matches your meaning.