後始末(あとしまつ)

あとしまつ
noun/suru-verb
cleaning up; dealing with aftermath
1. cleaning up; tidying up
the physical act of cleaning and putting things in order after an activity
パーティーの後始末(あとしまつ)をした。
I cleaned up after the party.
自分(じぶん)の後始末(あとしまつ)は自分(じぶん)でしなさい。
Clean up after yourself.
食事(しょくじ)の後始末(あとしまつ)は私(わたし)がやります。
I'll clean up after the meal.
使(つか)った道具(どうぐ)の後始末(あとしまつ)を忘(わす)れないでね。
Don't forget to put away the tools you used.
2. dealing with the aftermath; handling consequences
taking care of problems or complications that arise after an incident
失敗(しっぱい)の後始末(あとしまつ)に追(お)われた。
I was busy dealing with the aftermath of the failure.
不祥事(ふしょうじ)の後始末(あとしまつ)で大変(たいへん)だ。
Dealing with the aftermath of the scandal is exhausting.

後始末(あとしまつ) refers to cleaning up or dealing with consequences after something happens.

COMPOSITION:

  • 後(あと): After, behind
  • 始末(しまつ): Disposal, dealing with

SENSE 1 VS SENSE 2:

  • Sense 1: Physical cleanup (dishes, party mess, etc.)
  • Sense 2: Figurative - handling problems, fixing mistakes

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 後始末(あとしまつ)をする (to clean up/deal with)
  • 後始末(あとしまつ)に追(お)われる (to be busy dealing with aftermath)
  • 自分(じぶん)の後始末(あとしまつ) (cleaning up after oneself)
  • 失敗(しっぱい)の後始末(あとしまつ) (dealing with the consequences of failure)

USAGE NOTES:

  • Often implies responsibility for what happened
  • "Clean up after yourself" is a common parental instruction
  • Sense 2 often has a negative nuance (dealing with problems)

RELATED TERMS:

  • 片付(かたづ)け (tidying up - more general)
  • 尻拭(しりぬぐ)い (cleaning up someone else's mess - critical)
  • 処理(しょり) (handling, processing - more formal)

REGISTER: Neutral. Common in everyday conversation.

general
Added 2026.1.22 14:13
07500/07911_atoshimatsu