# ずじまい: ended up not doing ~

> Learn how to use ずじまい, a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar point meaning ended up not doing, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.

JLPT level: N1 · Updated: 2026-05-18 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n1-zu-jimai/

**ずじまい** means **ended up not doing ~**. It is a **JLPT N1** Japanese grammar pattern used to express that an action you intended or felt you should do was never carried out, often with a tone of regret.

This grammar point appears in essays, reflective writing, and JLPT N1 reading passages. If you want to express that you missed the chance to do something you had planned or felt obliged to do, **ずじまい** is a precise pattern to learn.

## What does ずじまい mean?

Use **ずじまい** when you want to express that an action you intended to do or felt you should do was left undone. It always carries a sense of regret or missed opportunity.

Natural translations include:
- ended up not doing ~
- never got around to doing ~
- in the end, did not ~ (with regret)

The best translation depends on the sentence. The key is that the action was expected or planned but ultimately not performed.

## How to form ずじまい

<div class="formation">
  <span class="ftoken t-stem">Verb (ない-form stem)</span>
  <span class="fplus">+</span>
  <span class="ftoken t-core">ずじまいだ</span>
</div>

The pattern attaches to the negative stem of a verb. For する, the stem is せ (from しない). For other verbs, simply remove ない.

<div class="formula">
  <span class="ftoken t-stem"><ruby>行か<rp>(</rp><rt>いか</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない</span> <span class="farrow">→</span> <span class="ftoken t-core"><ruby>行か<rp>(</rp><rt>いか</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ずじまい</span><br>
  <span class="ftoken t-stem"><ruby>食べ<rp>(</rp><rt>たべ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない</span> <span class="farrow">→</span> <span class="ftoken t-core"><ruby>食べ<rp>(</rp><rt>たべ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ずじまい</span><br>
  <span class="ftoken t-stem">しない</span> <span class="farrow">→</span> <span class="ftoken t-core">せずじまい</span><br>
  <span class="ftoken t-stem"><ruby>来<rp>(</rp><rt>こ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない</span> <span class="farrow">→</span> <span class="ftoken t-core"><ruby>来<rp>(</rp><rt>こ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ずじまい</span>
</div>

In polite or past contexts, **ずじまいです/でした** is used. The form before the grammar point matters; on the JLPT, wrong answers often attach a similar meaning to the wrong stem.

## When is ずじまい used?

Use **ずじまい** in situations like:
- regretting that you never did something you had planned
- reflecting on a missed opportunity
- describing an unfulfilled obligation or intention

Tone and register:
- formal and reflective; common in writing, essays, and monologue
- not suitable for casual spoken Japanese when no regret is implied
- often accompanied by expressions of intention like ～ようと<ruby>思っ<rp>(</rp><rt>おもっ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ていた

## ずじまい example sentences

<div class="examples">
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp">
      <ruby>彼<rp>(</rp><rt>かれ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に<ruby>謝<rt>あやま</rt></ruby>ろうと<ruby>思っ<rp>(</rp><rt>おもっ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ていたのに、<ruby>結局<rt>けっきょく</rt></ruby><ruby>言わ<rp>(</rp><rt>いわ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ずじまいだった。
    </div>
    <div class="example-en">I intended to apologize to him, but in the end I never said it.</div>
    <div class="example-foot">
      <span class="example-tag">regret</span>
      <span class="example-tag">N1 reading</span>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp">
      <ruby>読み<rp>(</rp><rt>よみ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>たい<ruby>本<rt>ほん</rt></ruby>だったのに、<ruby>忙<rt>いそが</rt></ruby>しくて<ruby>読ま<rp>(</rp><rt>よま</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ずじまいで<ruby>返<rt>かえ</rt></ruby>した。
    </div>
    <div class="example-en">It was a book I wanted to read, but I was busy and ended up returning it without reading it.</div>
    <div class="example-foot">
      <span class="example-tag">regret</span>
      <span class="example-tag">written</span>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp">
      <ruby>旅行<rt>りょこう</rt></ruby>の<ruby>準備<rt>じゅんび</rt></ruby>をしようと<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ながら、<ruby>結局<rt>けっきょく</rt></ruby><ruby>何<rp>(</rp><rt>なん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>もせずじまいだった。
    </div>
    <div class="example-en">I kept thinking I should prepare for the trip, but I ended up not doing anything.</div>
    <div class="example-foot">
      <span class="example-tag">missed chance</span>
      <span class="example-tag">reflective</span>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp">
      <ruby>友達<rt>ともだち</rt></ruby>に<ruby>連絡<rt>れんらく</rt></ruby>しなければと<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>つつ、<ruby>何<rt>なん</rt></ruby><ruby>ヶ月<rp>(</rp><rt>かげつ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>もせずじまいだった。
    </div>
    <div class="example-en">I knew I should contact my friend, but for months I never did.</div>
    <div class="example-foot">
      <span class="example-tag">obligation unfulfilled</span>
      <span class="example-tag">writing</span>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp">
      この<ruby>曲<rt>きょく</rt></ruby>を<ruby>練習<rt>れんしゅう</rt></ruby>しようと<ruby>思<rt>おも</rt></ruby>って<ruby>楽譜<rt>がくふ</rt></ruby>まで<ruby>買<rt>か</rt></ruby>ったのに、<ruby>弾<rt>ひ</rt></ruby>かずじまいだ。
    </div>
    <div class="example-en">I even bought the sheet music because I wanted to practice this piece, but I never ended up playing it.</div>
    <div class="example-foot">
      <span class="example-tag">regret</span>
      <span class="example-tag">music</span>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

After reading each sentence, ask what job **ずじまい** is doing: it marks that a planned or expected action was left undone, with a tinge of regret. That nuance is easier to remember than a one-word translation.

## Nuance of ずじまい

The key nuance is **regret over an action you intended or felt you should do but never carried out**.

This matters because learners sometimes treat it as a neutral "didn't do". But **ずじまい** always implies that there was intention, obligation, or expectation. It is never used for simple factual negatives.

For example, "<ruby>昨日<rp>(</rp><rt>きのう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><ruby>映画<rp>(</rp><rt>えいが</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>を<ruby>見<rp>(</rp><rt>み</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>なかった" is a simple statement. "<ruby>昨日<rp>(</rp><rt>きのう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><ruby>見よう<rp>(</rp><rt>みよう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>と<ruby>思っ<rp>(</rp><rt>おもっ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ていたが、<ruby>見<rp>(</rp><rt>み</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ずじまいだった" adds the weight of a missed intention.

The pattern often appears with expressions of intention or obligation (～ようと<ruby>思う<rp>(</rp><rt>おもう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>, ～なければならない), reinforcing the sense of an unfulfilled plan.

<div class="note-callout">
  <div class="note-icon">💡</div>
  <div class="note-body">
    <strong>ずじまい</strong> is not for things you simply didn't do; it's for things you <em>meant</em> to do but didn't. Use it when regret is part of the message.
  </div>
</div>

## ずじまい vs ずに<ruby>終わる<rp>(</rp><rt>おわる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>

Both **ずじまい** and **ずに<ruby>終わる<rp>(</rp><rt>おわる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>** can express "ended up not doing", but they differ in focus.

**ずじまい**:
- emphasizes personal regret over an unfulfilled intention
- usually involves an action the speaker planned or felt they should do
- stronger emotional weight

**ずに<ruby>終わる<rp>(</rp><rt>おわる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>**:
- more neutral; simply states that something didn't happen before a period ended
- can be used for events outside personal intention
- less emotionally charged

<div class="compare">
  <div class="cmp">
    <div class="cmp-head a">ずじまい</div>
    <div class="cmp-sub">regret, missed intention</div>
    <div class="cmp-when">When you personally meant to do it</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg"><ruby>彼<rp>(</rp><rt>かれ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に<ruby>言わ<rp>(</rp><rt>いわ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ずじまいだった。</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg-en">I never ended up telling him (and I regret it).</div>
  </div>
  <div class="vs">vs</div>
  <div class="cmp">
    <div class="cmp-head b">ずに<ruby>終わる<rp>(</rp><rt>おわる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></div>
    <div class="cmp-sub">neutral result, no action</div>
    <div class="cmp-when">When something simply didn't occur by the end</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg"><ruby>何<rp>(</rp><rt>なん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>もせずに<ruby>終わっ<rp>(</rp><rt>おわっ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>た。</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg-en">It ended without anything happening (no personal regret implied).</div>
  </div>
</div>

If both seem possible, check whether the speaker is personally invested. If there's a personal intention or regret, **ずじまい** is the natural choice.

## Common mistakes with ずじまい

<div class="mistakes">
  <div class="mistake">
    <div class="mline bad">
      <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
      <span class="mline-body"><ruby>彼<rp>(</rp><rt>かれ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に<ruby>言わ<rp>(</rp><rt>いわ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>なかったずじまい</span>
    </div>
    <div class="mline good">
      <span class="mark good">✅</span>
      <span class="mline-body"><ruby>彼<rp>(</rp><rt>かれ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に<ruby>言わ<rp>(</rp><rt>いわ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ずじまいだった</span>
    </div>
    <div class="note">Attach ずじまい directly to the negative stem, not to なかった.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="mistake">
    <div class="mline bad">
      <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
      <span class="mline-body"><ruby>雨<rp>(</rp><rt>あめ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>で<ruby>出かけ<rp>(</rp><rt>でかけ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ずじまいだった。　(if you had no intention to go out)</span>
    </div>
    <div class="mline good">
      <span class="mark good">✅</span>
      <span class="mline-body"><ruby>雨<rp>(</rp><rt>あめ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>で<ruby>出かけ<rp>(</rp><rt>でかけ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>なかった。</span>
    </div>
    <div class="note">Use ずじまい only when there was an intention or obligation. A simple factual "didn't" doesn't need it.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="mistake">
    <div class="mline bad">
      <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
      <span class="mline-body">するずじまい</span>
    </div>
    <div class="mline good">
      <span class="mark good">✅</span>
      <span class="mline-body">せずじまい</span>
    </div>
    <div class="note">The negative stem of する is せ, not し.</div>
  </div>
</div>

A helpful method: try adding しようと<ruby>思っ<rp>(</rp><rt>おもっ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ていた before the phrase. If the sentence makes sense, ずじまい is likely a good fit.

## Is ずじまい on the JLPT?

<div class="jlpt-card">
  <div class="jlpt-shield">N1</div>
  <div class="jlpt-info">
    Yes, **ずじまい** is a **JLPT N1** grammar point. It appears occasionally in the reading and grammar sections, often in contexts that test your understanding of nuance rather than just mechanics.
  </div>
  <div class="jlpt-checks">
    <span>✅ Recognize in reading</span>
    <span>✅ Understand regret nuance</span>
    <span>✅ Distinguish from similar ず patterns</span>
  </div>
</div>

For test preparation, compare it with other ず patterns like ずにはいられない and ずに<ruby>済ま<rp>(</rp><rt>すま</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>せる. Questions often mix them in multiple-choice options.

## Practice questions for ずじまい

<div class="prompts">
  <div class="prompt">
    <span class="prompt-num">1</span>
    <span class="prompt-text">Write a sentence using ずじまい about a book you wanted to read but never got to.</span>
    <span class="prompt-tag">regret</span>
  </div>
  <div class="prompt">
    <span class="prompt-num">2</span>
    <span class="prompt-text">Create a sentence where ずじまい shows regret over not apologizing.</span>
    <span class="prompt-tag">personal</span>
  </div>
  <div class="prompt">
    <span class="prompt-num">3</span>
    <span class="prompt-text">Compare ずじまい and ずに<ruby>終わる<rp>(</rp><rt>おわる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby> in a short dialogue.</span>
    <span class="prompt-tag">contrast</span>
  </div>
</div>

Keep your first sentences simple. Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the regret becomes clear.

## Learning path for ずじまい

To learn **ずじまい** efficiently, start with its formation, then refine the nuance, and finally contrast it with similar patterns.

<div class="path">
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">1</span>
    <div class="step-body">Practise attaching ずじまい to the negative stem of 10 common verbs. Include する, <ruby>来る<rp>(</rp><rt>くる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>, and an <ruby>一段<rp>(</rp><rt>いちだん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby> verb.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">2</span>
    <div class="step-body">Write three sentences where you regret not doing something. Check that each sentence contains an intention (〜ようと<ruby>思っ<rp>(</rp><rt>おもっ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>た, 〜なければ).</div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">3</span>
    <div class="step-body">Contrast with ずに<ruby>終わる<rp>(</rp><rt>おわる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby> in a short paragraph; explain the difference in your own words.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">4</span>
    <div class="step-body">Review related ず patterns (ずに<ruby>済ま<rp>(</rp><rt>すま</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>せる, ずにはいられない) to see how ずじまい fits in the family.</div>
  </div>
</div>

## Related grammar to review next

- [ずにはおかない・ないではおかない](/blog/n1-zu-niwa-okanai-nai-dewa-okanai/) — because both use the ず negative stem and express inevitability, though here the focus is on a result that must occur.
- [ずにはすまない・ないではすまない](/blog/n1-zu-niwa-sumanai-nai-dewa-sumanai/) — because it also uses the ず negative form and deals with unavoidable outcomes, contrasting with the regret of ずじまい.
- [ずとも](/blog/n1-zu-tomo/) — because it shares the ず negative stem but expresses "even without doing", a different logical relationship.
- [ぞ・ぜ](/blog/n1-zo-ze/) — because these are sentence-ending particles that, like ずじまい, add speaker stance (assertion, force) and appear in similar written registers.

## Learn ずじまい with Hane

If you want to review **ずじまい** 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/)