modality N1 uncommon writtenpolite
〜始末だ — end up (badly) ~
〜始末だ ・ しまつだ
Meaning
- (it) ends up in such a sorry state that ~ — a deplorable final outcome at the end of a bad chain of events; critical tone
Key sentence
何度注意しても直さず、最後には逆切れする始末だ。
No matter how often you warn him he won't change, and in the end he even snaps back — that's how bad it's got.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb dictionary-form; この始末だ ('this sorry state') | V-る + 始末だ |
Examples
借金を重ね、ついには夜逃げする始末だった。
He piled up debts, and in the end he ended up skipping town in the night.
計画は遅れ、予算も超過する始末だ。
The plan fell behind and even went over budget — that's the sorry state of it.
Easily confused with
Notes
- Strongly critical and exasperated. この始末だ = 'look what's become of it'.
See 〜始末だ in real sentences
Jengo shows 〜始末だ the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.