そびれる means to miss a chance; to fail to do ~. It is a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar pattern used to express that an opportunity was missed and the action remained undone, often due to hesitation or poor timing.
This grammar point often appears in conversation, fiction, and JLPT N1 reading passages. If you want to express that an opportunity was missed and the action stayed undone, そびれる is a useful pattern to learn because it captures a specific flavor of regret that simpler words like 忘れる don’t.
What does そびれる mean?
Use そびれる when you want to express that you missed a chance to do something and the action never happened — usually through your own hesitation, bad timing, or distraction.
Natural translations include:
- to fail to do ~
- to miss the chance to ~
- to let the opportunity to ~ slip by
The best translation depends on the sentence. Try to notice the speaker’s feeling (regret, embarrassment, frustration) first, then choose the English phrase that fits that context.
How to form そびれる
Verb (ます-stem without ます) + そびれる
Examples of the pattern:
- 食べそびれる (fail to eat / miss a meal)
- 行きそびれる (fail to go / miss the chance to go)
- 言いそびれる (fail to say / miss the chance to speak)
The verb must be a volitional action — something you intended to do. Stative verbs like ある or potential forms like できる generally don’t attach. The stem stays unchanged; you just drop ます and attach そびれる as a 一段 verb.
When is そびれる used?
Use そびれる in situations like:
- explaining why something didn’t get done
- expressing regret over a missed opportunity
- describing hesitation that led to inaction
- recounting timing mishaps (e.g., oversleeping, missing a call)
Tone and register:
- conversational, slightly self-deprecating or regretful
- common in daily speech and informal writing; not stiff or academic
- appears in JLPT N1 grammar recognition questions and reading comprehension
そびれる example sentences
-
寝坊して、電車に乗りそびれた。
(I overslept and missed my train.) -
聞きたいことがあったのに、忙しくて聞きそびれてしまった。
(There was something I wanted to ask, but I got busy and never did.) -
彼に「ありがとう」と言いそびれたまま、会えなくなった。
(I never got to say “thank you” to him, and then I couldn’t see him anymore.) -
昨日のライブ配信を見そびれて、がっかりしている。
(I missed the live stream yesterday and I’m bummed about it.) -
チャンスは何度かあったが、結局告白しそびれた。
(I had several chances, but in the end I failed to confess.) -
予約をしそびれて、人気のレストランに入れなかった。
(I forgot to make a reservation and couldn’t get into the popular restaurant.)
After reading each sentence, ask what job そびれる is doing: an intended action was left undone because the moment passed. That nuance is clearer than a one-word translation.
Nuance of そびれる
The key nuance is an opportunity was missed and the action remained undone, often through no one’s fault but your own hesitation or bad luck. It is not a deliberate refusal — you wanted to do it, but circumstances or your own inaction got in the way.
This matters because learners often overuse 忘れる (forget) when the real issue is hesitation or timing. そびれる says, “I meant to, but I didn’t, and now the window is closed.” It carries a quiet regret that a neutral word lacks.
Compared with しないままだった, そびれる emphasizes the lost chance rather than just the incomplete state.
そびれる vs そこなう
Both そびれる and そこなう (損なう) express failure to do something, but they feel different.
そびれる:
- focus on the missed opportunity or hesitation
- suggests the moment slipped away
- natural in everyday conversation
そこなう:
- broader sense of “fail to do” or “do badly / miss”
- can be used even when the chance wasn’t the issue
- slightly more formal; often appears in set phrases (e.g., 見損なう, 書き損なう)
Quick contrast examples:
- 言いそびれて、後悔している。
(I failed to say it and regret it — the chance passed.) - 言い損なって、誤解された。
(I misspoke / failed to say it clearly, and was misunderstood.)
If both translations seem possible, check whether the focus is on the missed timing (そびれる) or on the flawed execution/lack of success (そこなう).
Common mistakes with そびれる
Watch out for these mistakes:
- Attaching it to a verb that isn’t a planned action (e.g., あるそびれる ❌). The verb must be something you intended to do.
- Confusing そびれる with そこなう when the nuance of timing matters.
- Using it for deliberate refusal. そびれる always implies you wanted to do it but didn’t.
- Overusing it in formal writing; it sits best in casual or narrative registers.
A helpful practice method: write a sentence with そびれる, then try rewriting it with 忘れる, しないでしまう, or そこなう. Notice which one carries the feeling of “the moment passed me by.”
Is そびれる on the JLPT?
Yes. そびれる is commonly taught as JLPT N1 grammar.
That means learners should be able to:
- recognize it in reading passages
- understand its nuance in context (especially in listening questions where tone matters)
- use it in simple original sentences with the correct verb form
For test preparation, study the grammar point in full sentences. JLPT questions often test whether you grasp the reason behind the failure, not just the translation.
Practice questions for そびれる
Try making your own sentences with these prompts:
- Use そびれる in a sentence about a conversation you never started.
- Write about something you nearly bought but didn’t.
- Compare そびれる with そこなう in two sentences that describe the same situation but with different emphasis.
Keep your first sentences simple. Once the structure feels natural, add context so the regret becomes clear.
Learning path for そびれる
To learn そびれる efficiently, start with its formation, then compare it with similar patterns, and finally practice in context.
- First, make sure you can turn a few common verbs into the そびれる form without hesitating (食べそびれる, 話しそびれる, 買いそびれる).
- Next, compare it with そこなう・そこねる・そんじる. These patterns are close enough that choosing between them helps you understand the nuance.
- Finally, write short diary entries using そびれる for real missed chances. Then try replacing it with one of the related patterns below and feel the difference.
Related grammar to review next
- そこなう・そこねる・そんじる — because it also expresses failure to complete an action, but with less focus on timing
- そばから — because it shows an action immediately undone; useful contrast with “missed chance”
- すべがない — because it conveys “no way to do something,” a more resigned version of missed opportunity
- しまつだ — because it marks a final result, often negative, which can pair with actions you failed to take
Learn そびれる with Hane
If you want to review そびれる together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
Browse more lessons here:
FAQ about そびれる
What does そびれる mean in Japanese?
そびれる means “to miss a chance; to fail to do ~” in Japanese. It is an N1 grammar point, and this lesson explains its formation, nuance, example sentences, common mistakes, and similar grammar.
Is そびれる on the JLPT?
そびれる is taught as N1 Japanese grammar in Hane's grammar lesson archive. Review it with examples, usage notes, and related N1 patterns.
How should I practice そびれる?
Read several example sentences, identify the form before and after そびれる, then make your own short sentences and compare it with nearby grammar points.