始末だ

End Up (Badly)

Level 4Sounds Like shimatsuda

始末だ (shimatsu da) is an advanced expression meaning 'ended up in a bad state' or 'it's come to the point where...' It highlights a final, often pathetic or extreme result that the speaker finds disappointing or appalling.

How It Works

The word 始末 (shimatsu) originally refers to the management or settlement of an affair. In this grammar pattern, it describes the 'settlement' or final state of a situation that has gone wrong.

Key Characteristics:

  • Negative Nuance: It is never used for positive results. It implies the outcome is shameful, pathetic, or ridiculous.
  • Progression: It often follows a series of other negative actions, frequently paired with 〜あげく (after all that...) to emphasize the long road to failure.
  • Emotional Weight: The speaker isn't just reporting a fact; they are expressing shock, disappointment, or criticism (e.g., 'I can't believe it's come to this').

Grammar Rules:

  • Attaches to the Dictionary Form of verbs (even for past events, though the final copula becomes 始末だった).
  • Can follow demonstratives like この / その / あの to point at a visible mess or situation (e.g., この始末だ - 'Look at this mess').
  • Often appears as 〜という始末だ to frame the entire preceding clause as the pathetic result.

Examples (4)

  1. 彼は借金を重ねたあげく、最後には親の金まで盗む始末だ。

    After accumulating debt, he finally went so far as to steal his parents' money.

    Word by Word: He debt accumulated after, finally parents' money even steal end-up-badly.

    This shows a progression of bad behavior leading to an extreme, pathetic final act (stealing from parents).

  2. 昨日は財布を忘れ、電車に乗り遅れ、挙句の果てには会社をクビになる始末だった。

    Yesterday I forgot my wallet, missed the train, and to top it all off, I ended up getting fired.

    Word by Word: Yesterday wallet forgot, train late-for, end of end company fired become end-up-badly was.

    Note that the verb 'become' (なる) is in dictionary form, while the final 'shimatsu' is in the past tense 'datta' to indicate the day's events.

  3. あれほど注意したのに、結局この始末だ。

    Despite all my warnings, it has ended up like this (look at this mess).

    Word by Word: That much warned despite, eventually this end-up-badly is.

    Using 'kono shimatsu' (this mess) is a common way to point at a physical or situational disaster.

  4. 手伝ってくれると言ったのに、結局は何もしない始末だ。

    Even though they said they would help, in the end, they didn't do anything at all.

    Word by Word: Help give said despite, eventually anything do-not end-up-badly is.

    This uses the negative form (nai-form) of the verb to describe a pathetic lack of action.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the pattern for positive or neutral results.

    一生懸命勉強して、合格する始末だ。
    一生懸命勉強した末に、合格した。

    始末だ implies a regrettable or pathetic outcome. For positive results, use 〜末に or a neutral result word.

  • Using the past tense verb directly before 始末.

    会社をクビになった始末だ。
    会社をクビになる始末だった。

    The verb preceding 始末 should be in the dictionary form (non-past). To indicate the past, change the final copula (da/desu) to the past tense (datta/deshita).

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

始末だLevel 4End Up (Badly)

Learn This First

始末だ (shimatsu da) is used to describe a final, usually negative or regrettable, outcome after a series of events. To understand it, learners should be familiar with the plain copula 'だ' and have a grasp of other patterns that express negative results or the culmination of a process, such as 'seide' or 'ageku'.

Words in This Pattern

始末