# 始末だ: end up; in the end; as a result (negative) > Learn how to use 始末だ, a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar point meaning to end up in a negative, often shameful outcome, with structure, nuance, examples, and comparisons. JLPT level: N1 · Updated: 2026-05-18 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n1-shimatsu-da/ **始末(しまつ)だ** means **end up; in the end; as a result (negative)**. It is a **JLPT N1** Japanese grammar pattern used to express exasperation or disappointment that a situation has deteriorated to a deplorable or embarrassing state. This grammar point often appears in complaints, formal reporting, and JLPT N1 reading passages. If you want to convey that things got so bad that it ended in a shameful outcome, **始末(しまつ)だ** is a useful pattern to learn because it carries a strong judgment that other result-expressing patterns lack.
始末(しまつ)だ doesn't just say something happened — it says the outcome was undignified, and you're frustrated (or even disgusted) that things came to this.
## What does 始末(しまつ)だ mean? Use **始末(しまつ)だ** when you want to express that a series of events led to a final, undesirable result — especially one that seems shameful, pathetic, or beyond what a reasonable person would expect. Natural translations include: - end up; in the end; as a result (negative) - to such a point that…; things came to this shameful end The best translation depends on the sentence. Try to feel the speaker's frustration first: the English words "ended up" alone are often too neutral; you need to see that this outcome is being judged as disgraceful. ## How to form 始末(しまつ)だ Attach **始末(しまつ)だ** to the **dictionary (plain) form** of a verb, or to a noun with **の**. It can appear as 始末(しまつ)だ、始末(しまつ)だった、始末(しまつ)になる, etc., depending on tense and nuance.
Verb (dictionary form) + 始末(しまつ)だ
Noun + の + 始末(しまつ)だ
泣く(なく) → 泣く(なく)始末(しまつ)だ
彼(かれ)のわがまま → 彼(かれ)のわがままの始末(しまつ)だ
The form before the grammar point matters. In JLPT N1 questions, wrong answer choices often combine 始末(しまつ)だ with a past verb form, so always check for dictionary form. ## When is 始末(しまつ)だ used? Use **始末(しまつ)だ** in situations like: - complaining about a person's repeated failure that ended in an embarrassing result - describing a sequence of events that led to a pitiful final state - reporting a situation where the outcome itself is the object of criticism - expressing the speaker's disbelief that things could get so bad Tone and register: - carries a critical, sometimes dismissive tone; can sound harsh or sarcastic - common in written complaints, formal incident reports, and spoken exasperation - Appears frequently in JLPT N1 reading and grammar sections ## 始末(しまつ)だ example sentences
彼かれは仕事しごとをサボって、とうとうクビになる始末しまつだ。
He kept slacking off at work, and it got so bad that he ended up getting fired.
complaint extreme outcome
注意ちゅういしたのに、また同おなじミスをする始末しまつだった。
Even though I warned him, he went and made the same mistake again — can you believe it?
frustration
借金しゃっきんが返かえせず、家いえを手放てばなす始末しまつになった。
He couldn't pay off his debts, and things went so far that he had to give up his house.
negative escalation
あの政治家せいじかは説明せつめいを逃のがれて、最後さいごには記者きしゃ会見かいけんを開ひらかない始末しまつだ。
That politician kept dodging questions, and in the end he won't even hold a press conference — it's disgraceful.
criticism formal context
やる気きがないなら、最初さいしょから言いえばいいのに、遅刻ちこくばかりして、ついには無断欠勤むだんけっきんする始末しまつだ。
If he doesn't have the will to do it, he should have said so from the start — instead he kept arriving late and eventually started skipping work without notice. It's pathetic.
shameful progression
After reading each sentence, ask what job **始末(しまつ)だ** is doing: the speaker isn't just reporting a result; they're condemning the whole messy process that led to it. That makes the nuance easier to remember than a one-word translation. ## Nuance of 始末(しまつ)だ The key nuance is **an end state that is not only negative but undignified or disgraceful — and the speaker wants you to judge it as such**. When you use **始末(しまつ)だ**, you're doing more than stating what happened. You're signaling that a person's actions (or inaction) were so poor that the outcome is beneath contempt. It often implies a downward spiral: repeated mistakes, ignored advice, or sheer incompetence. This matters because learners sometimes treat **始末(しまつ)だ** as a simple "in the end" pattern. But if you apply it to a neutral outcome, it sounds sarcastic or absurd. The emotional weight is part of the grammar.
💡
Think of 始末(しまつ)だ as the verbal equivalent of throwing your hands up and saying, "And this is what it came to. Unbelievable." The judgment is always part of the message.
## 始末(しまつ)だ vs あげく Both **始末(しまつ)だ** and **あげく** can express an ending after a drawn-out process, but their tone and target differ. **始末(しまつ)だ**: - The result is shameful, beyond the pale, and the speaker condemns the whole sequence - Often used to criticize a person's character or incompetence - Dictionary form attachment, more formal/judgmental **あげく**: - A result (usually negative) after a long struggle or deliberation - The outcome may be unfortunate but not necessarily disgraceful - Attaches to た-form; the focus is on the lengthy process, not moral judgment
始末(しまつ)だ
Strong judgment, disgraceful outcome
When the outcome reflects poorly on someone’s behavior
借金しゃっきんを返かえさずに逃にげる始末しまつだ。
He went so far as to run away without paying his debts — how despicable.
vs
あげく
After long deliberation/struggle, a (usually negative) result
When the process itself is central, not the moral quality
長ながいこと話はなし合あったあげく、結局けっきょく何なにも決きまらなかった。
After discussing it for a long time, in the end nothing was decided.
If both translations seem possible, check the speaker's attitude. If they're blaming someone for letting things fall apart, **始末(しまつ)だ** fits. If they're describing an unfortunate but neutral chain of events, **あげく** is better. ## Common mistakes with 始末(しまつ)だ Watch out for these mistakes:
❌
注意ちゅういしたのに、成功せいこうした始末しまつだ。
✅
注意ちゅういしたのに、失敗しっぱいする始末しまつだった。
始末(しまつ)だ is only for negative, often disgraceful outcomes. "Success" breaks the nuance.
❌
やる気きがないから、辞やめた始末しまつだ。
✅
やる気きがないから、辞やめる始末しまつだ。
始末(しまつ)だ attaches to the dictionary form, not the past form. The result itself is the undignified ending.
❌
努力どりょくした結果けっか、合格ごうかくした始末しまつだ。
✅
努力どりょくしたのに不合格ふごうかくになる始末しまつだった。
Using 始末(しまつ)だ with a positive outcome is unnatural. The outcome must be something you'd consider shameful or disappointing.
A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with **始末(しまつ)だ**, then rewrite it with a neutral result expression like **結果(けっか)**. If the emotional weight disappears, you've correctly isolated 始末(しまつ)だ's critical nuance. ## Is 始末(しまつ)だ on the JLPT?
N1

始末(しまつ)だ is standard JLPT N1 grammar, appearing regularly in the reading and grammar sections.

✅ Recognize in reading
✅ Understand nuance in context
✅ Use in original sentences

Test questions often ask you to choose 始末(しまつ)だ from a list of similar endings (like あげく, 結果(けっか), 末(すえ)に). Pay attention to the negative, judgmental tone — that's the key differentiator. Expect passages where a speaker criticizes someone whose behavior led to a disgraceful situation.

For test preparation, study the grammar point in full sentences. JLPT questions often test whether you understand the surrounding context, not just the dictionary meaning. ## Practice questions for 始末(しまつ)だ
1
Use 始末(しまつ)だ in a sentence about a friend's bad habit that led to an embarrassing consequence you actually witnessed.
writing
2
Write an original sentence with 始末(しまつ)だ where the outcome is not just negative but feels shameful or beneath what you'd expect.
nuance focus
3
Compare 始末(しまつ)だ and あげく in two short sentences about a job interview that went wrong. Show how the judgment differs.
comparison
4
Read a news article in Japanese and find an example of 始末(しまつ)だ. Explain why the writer used it instead of a neutral result phrase.
reading
Keep your first sentences simple. Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the critical tone becomes clear. ## Learning path for 始末(しまつ)だ To learn **始末(しまつ)だ** efficiently, start with its formation, then internalize its judgmental force, and finally practice in context where choosing it over alternatives changes the message.
1
Master the form. Practice attaching 始末(しまつ)だ to dictionary-form verbs and nouns with の. Drill sentences like “泣く(なく)始末(しまつ)だ” and “無断(むだん)欠勤(けっきん)する始末(しまつ)だ” until the pattern is automatic.
2
Read and listen for the emotional tone. Find example sentences with 始末(しまつ)だ in criticism or complaint contexts. Notice how the speaker is always frustrated or disappointed.
3
Compare with あげく. Write two short narratives about the same situation — one using 始末(しまつ)だ (judgment) and one using あげく (process focus). Explain the difference in your own words.
4
Produce original complaints. Describe real or fictional situations where someone’s repeated poor choices led to a disgraceful outcome. Use 始末(しまつ)だ to emphasize how bad it got.
## Related grammar to review next - [そばから](/blog/n1-soba-kara/) — describes a situation where something happens right away, often with an unwelcome repetition that fits the same frustrating tone. - [さぞ](/blog/n1-sazo/) — expresses the speaker's certainty about someone's emotional state, often in a sympathetic or critical narrative context. - [そびれる](/blog/n1-sobireru/) — indicates missing the chance to do something, which can lead to the kind of embarrassing outcome 始末(しまつ)だ comments on. - [さもないと](/blog/n1-samonaito/) — means “otherwise, else,” often introducing the negative consequence that 始末(しまつ)だ would describe. ## Learn 始末(しまつ)だ with Hane If you want to review **始末(しまつ)だ** together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions. Browse more lessons here: - [All grammar lessons](/blog/) - [JLPT N1 grammar lessons](/blog/n1/)