しくじる

• Reading: しくじる
• Romaji: shikujiru
• Pronunciation: /ɕi.kɯ.dʑi.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To fail; to blunder; to mess up. To make a mistake that leads to an unsuccessful outcome.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb with a colloquial, somewhat blunt tone. Implies a clear failure or blunder rather than a minor mistake. Commonly used in casual speech and storytelling. The TV show しくじり先生 (Teachers Who Messed Up) popularised this word among younger generations.

Examples

1. 面接でしくじって、不合格になった。 I blew the interview and didn't get the job.
2. 大事なプレゼンでしくじるわけにはいかない。 I can't afford to mess up such an important presentation.
3. 一度しくじったからといって、諦める必要はない。 Just because you messed up once doesn't mean you have to give up.

Usage Guide

Context: daily conversation, storytelling, self-reflection

Tone: rueful

Origin & History

Possibly derived from an onomatopoeic root suggesting stumbling or faltering. Has been used in colloquial Japanese since the Edo period to describe failures and blunders.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo period

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal