ずじまい
(Zu ji mai)
ended up not (doing) / didn't manage to.
Connection rules
- ＋V ない-stem + ずじまい (or + で + なる, etc.). Irregular: する → せずじまい.
- ＋Retrospective regret — 'didn't end up X-ing, though I meant to'.
- ＋Irregular: する → せずじまい (not しずじまい).
Examples
1.
忙しくて、彼に会えずじまいだった。
Isogashiku te, kare ni ae zu jimai da ta.
I was so busy I didn't manage to see him.
「ended up not (doing) / didn't manage to」
2.
言いたいことも言えずじまいだった。
Ii tai koto mo ie zu jimai da ta.
I ended up not saying what I wanted to say.
「ended up not (doing) / didn't manage to」