じまい

suffix

ending; closing; quitting

Attaches to a noun to mean the end of that thing, often with a nuance of finality or closing up. Common in compounds like 店じまい (closing a shop for the day or for good).

See also: 店じまい

• 今日きょうはもう店みせじまいにしよう。

  Let's close up the shop for today.

• 長ながい一いち日にちの仕し事ごとじまいに、一いっ杯ぱいやるのが楽たのしみだ。

  I look forward to having a drink at the end of a long day's work.

suffix

ending up not doing; without having a chance to

Attaches to the 〜ず negative form of a verb to express regret or disappointment that something ended without the intended action taking place. Often implies 'before I could even...'.

• 結けっ局きょく、彼かれに何なにも言いわずじまいだった。

  In the end, I ended up not saying anything to him.

• 買かおうと思おもっていた本ほんを買かわずじまいで、売うり切きれてしまった。

  I ended up not buying the book I wanted to, and it sold out.