始末だ
Ends up, Finally, In the end, (Unfortunately) As a result, This is what happened, To come about, To wind up
Structure
この始末だ
Explanation
始末, a noun that can mean 'conclusion' or 'state of affairs', is used to describe the unfortunate final result of a series of negative actions or events. It conveys disappointment or exasperation with how a situation turned out. It is often translated as 'the result is...', 'in the end...', or 'to end up...'
This grammar point is most often seen following verbs in their dictionary form.
- 昨日は夜遅くまでゲームをして、今朝は寝坊して遅刻する始末だ。I stayed up late playing video games last night, and as a result, I overslept and was late this morning.
- 道に迷った上に電車も逃して、結局約束の時間に間に合わない始末だった。On top of getting lost, I also missed my train, so in the end, I was not on time for my appointment.
- 彼は何でも自分でできると言っていたのに、何一つできずに人に助けを求める始末だ。He said he could do everything himself, but he ended up unable to do a single thing and had to ask for help.
Since 始末 is used to stress a regrettable conclusion that comes from a specific process, it often appears with words such as とうとう (‘finally’), 挙げ句 (‘after all that…’), or 結局 (‘in the end’). Using these expressions together might seem redundant, but because 始末 focuses on the culmination of the entire process, these adverbs serve to add emphasis rather than being repetitive.
Examples
息子は家の中でボール遊びをしてはいけないと注意したのに聞かず、しまいに窓ガラスを割ってしまう始末だ。
My son wouldn't listen when I told him not to play with the ball inside, and he wound up breaking the window.
彼は借りたお金を返すどころか、さらに貸してくれと言い出す始末だ。
Far from paying back the money he borrowed, he ended up asking me to lend him even more!
パーティーのためにケーキを焼こうとしたのに、砂糖と塩を間違えるわ、オーブンの温度を高くしすぎるわで、結局真っ黒こげにしてしまう始末だ。
I tried to bake a cake for the party, but I mixed up the sugar and salt and set the oven temperature too high. I ended up completely burning it.
鈴木：「佐藤さん、どうしたんですか。顔色が悪いですよ。」
佐藤：「昨日の飲み会で調子に乗って飲みすぎちゃって。おかげでこの始末だ。」
Suzuki: 'Sato-san, what's wrong? You look pale.'
Sato: 'I got carried away and drank way too much at the party last night. And this is the result.'
新しいルームメイトは掃除も洗濯もしないし、共有スペースを散らかしっぱなしにするし。しまいには「もっときれいに使ってよ」と文句を言ってくる始末だ。
My new roommate doesn't clean or do laundry, and always leaves the common areas a mess. To top it all off, he has the nerve to complain to me, saying 'You should keep things cleaner.'
寝坊して大慌てで家を出たので、大事な会議の資料を家に忘れてきてしまう始末だ。
I overslept and left the house in a huge rush, so I wound up forgetting the important documents for the meeting at home.
道に迷ってスマホのアプリを使ったが、電池が切れてしまった：「近道をしようとしたばっかりに、この始末だ。」
After getting lost, using a map app, and then having the battery die: 'All because I tried to take a shortcut... look at the mess I'm in now.'