〜ずじまい

About

～ずじまい, a combination of a ず form verb (i.e. Negative verb stem(ない) + ず) and しまい (仕舞しまい・終しまい), is used to express that something one wanted/had to do did not end up getting done.

～ずじまい carries a nuance of regret/sadness, and is often paired with other "in the end" grammar such as 「結局けっきょく」.

～ずじまい is most commonly used in casual/polite spoken scenarios.

～ずじまい shouldn't be used with actions that still have a chance of happening.

～ずじまい attaches to the negative stem form of verbs (with the exception of する → せずじまい).

E.g. サンドイッチを持もって行いったけど、食たべずじまいだった。 "I brought a sandwich, but I didn't end up eating it."

E.g. せっかく漫画まんがを借かりたけど、読よまずじまいになってしまった。 "I went to the trouble of borrowing the manga, but I never ended up reading it."

When ～ずじまい is used with potential form verbs, it increases the sad/regretful nuance.

E.g. チケットを買かったけど、時間じかんが合あわず行いけずじまいだった。 "I bought a ticket, but the time didn't work and I didn't end up being able to go."

Summary

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  ～ずじまい is used to express that "(one) didn't end up doing X", and has a sad/regretful nuance to it

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  ～ずじまい is most commonly used in casual/polite spoken scenarios