What it means
ずじまい expresses that someone ultimately failed to do something, usually despite having intended to do it or having had an opportunity to do it. It often carries a retrospective nuance of regret, disappointment, or an acknowledgment that the expected action never happened. It follows the verb’s negative stem, and the resulting expression is commonly used when looking back on an unfinished plan or missed opportunity.
Usage note
ずじまい is relatively formal and is most natural in written accounts, reports, and careful speech. With する, the form is せずじまい rather than しずじまい. Do not confuse it with ずに, which simply means “without doing” and does not by itself imply that an intended action was ultimately left undone.
How to use it
結局、予約していた講演会には行かずじまいでした。
In the end, I ended up not going to the lecture I had reserved.
結局、予約していた講演会には行かずじまいだった。
In the end, I ended up not going to the lecture I had reserved.
Example sentences
定年を迎える前に故郷の図書館を訪ねるつもりだったが、仕事に追われ、結局一度も足を運ばずじまいだった。
I intended to visit the library in my hometown before reaching retirement age, but work kept me busy, and in the end I never managed to go there even once.
新しい制度が始まる前に、利用者