始末(しまつ)

しまつ
noun, suru verb
management, disposal; circumstances, outcome
action
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present始末(しまつ)する始末(しまつ)しない
Present polite始末(しまつ)します始末(しまつ)しません
Past始末(しまつ)した始末(しまつ)しなかった
Past polite始末(しまつ)しました始末(しまつ)しませんでした
て form始末(しまつ)して始末(しまつ)しなくて
ている present始末(しまつ)している始末(しまつ)していない
ている polite始末(しまつ)しています始末(しまつ)していません
ている past始末(しまつ)していた始末(しまつ)していなかった
ている past polite始末(しまつ)していました始末(しまつ)していませんでした
Conditional ば始末(しまつ)すれば始末(しまつ)しなければ
Conditional たら始末(しまつ)したら始末(しまつ)しなかったら
Volitional始末(しまつ)しよう—
Volitional polite始末(しまつ)しましょう—
Potential始末(しまつ)できる始末(しまつ)できない
Passive始末(しまつ)される始末(しまつ)されない
Causative始末(しまつ)させる始末(しまつ)させない
Imperative始末(しまつ)しろ始末(しまつ)するな
1. management, disposal, handling
Taking care of a problem or situation, cleaning up, or dealing with the aftermath of something. Often implies tidying up a mess or resolving a troublesome situation.
自分(じぶん)の始末(しまつ)は自分(じぶん)でつけなさい。
Clean up after yourself.
事故(じこ)の後始末(あとしまつ)に追(お)われている。
We are busy dealing with the aftermath of the accident.
散(ち)らかした部屋(へや)の始末(しまつ)をしてから出(で)かけなさい。
Tidy up the messy room before you go out.
2. circumstances, outcome, state of affairs
The way things have turned out, especially a bad or troublesome outcome. Used to describe an unfortunate state that has resulted from someone's actions. Often carries a tone of exasperation.
何度(なんど)注意(ちゅうい)しても聞(き)かず、この始末(しまつ)だ。
No matter how many times I warned them, they wouldn't listen, and this is the result.
無理(むり)をした挙句(あげく)、体(からだ)を壊(こわ)すという始末(しまつ)だ。
After pushing too hard, the outcome was that they ruined their health.
約束(やくそく)を破(やぶ)った挙句(あげく)に逆(ぎゃく)ギレする始末(しまつ)で、呆(あき)れてしまった。
After breaking the promise, they had the nerve to get angry — I was dumbfounded at how things turned out.

Common collocations

  • 始末(しまつ)をつける: to settle/take care of a matter
  • 始末(しまつ)が悪(わる)い: hard to deal with, troublesome
  • 後(あと)始末(しまつ): cleanup, dealing with the aftermath
  • この始末(しまつ)だ: this is the (sorry) result
  • 〜という始末(しまつ)だ: ...is how things ended up (exasperated)
  • 始末(しまつ)書(しょ): written apology/incident report

Sense distinction

Sense 1 (management) is active — you 始末(しまつ)する something. Sense 2 (outcome) is descriptive — you observe この始末(しまつ) (this sorry state). The pattern 〜という始末(しまつ)だ or この始末(しまつ)だ expresses the speaker's exasperation at a bad outcome.

Related Words

Compare: 顛末(てんまつ) (full account)
general
Added 2026.2.20 22:12 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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