しまった

• Reading: しまった
• Romaji: shimatta
• Pronunciation: /ɕi.mat.ta/

Meaning

Damn it!; Oh no! An exclamation of regret or frustration when something goes wrong.

An interjection derived from the verb しまう (to finish, to end up doing). Used when realising a mistake or encountering an unfortunate situation. More casual than 失敗した but less vulgar than stronger expletives. Common in spoken Japanese across all ages.

Examples

1. しまった、電車に乗り遅れた。 Damn it, I missed the train!
2. しまった、財布を家に忘れてきた。 Oh no, I left my wallet at home!
3. しまった、間違えてメールを送ってしまった。 Shoot, I accidentally sent the wrong email!

Usage Guide

Context: daily conversation, self-talk, reactions

Tone: frustrated

Origin & History

Derived from the past tense of しまう (to end up doing something, often with regret). The standalone exclamatory use developed from the sense of something being irreversibly done.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal