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〜ずじまい

ended up never (doing), never got round to

Verb ない-form minus ない + ずじまい(だ · で)

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ずじまい means you intended or hoped to do something, but the chance passed and it never happened: 忙しくて、結局その映画は見ずじまいだった, "I was so busy that I never did get to see that film".

Build it like ずに (N4): 見ない → 見ずじまい, 聞かない → 聞かずじまい. する becomes せずじまい. It works with potential verbs too: 会えずじまい, "never managed to meet".

It's usually in the past (ずじまいだった) and carries regret. 結局 ("in the end") often comes before it.

Compare ずに ("without doing"), which is neutral, and 損ねる (N2, "missed the chance"), which is about one occasion. ずじまい is about it never happening at all.

Examples

  • 忙いそがしくて、結局けっきょくその映画えいがは見みずじまいだった。

    I was so busy that I never did get to see that film.

  • 彼女かのじょの名前なまえは聞きかずじまいだった。

    I never did find out her name.

  • せっかく買かったのに、一度いちども使つかわずじまいだった。

    I bought it specially, and never once used it.

  • 本当ほんとうのことは言いわずじまいだった。

    I never did tell them the truth.

  • 結局けっきょく、彼かれには会あえずじまいだった。

    In the end, I never got to see him.

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