始末だ
JLPT Level: N1
Meanings
ends up in a mess
this is the end result
unfortunately how things turned out
what happened as a consequence
this is the outcome
to wind up like this
Usage
これで始末だ
こんな始末だ
Noun + の + 始末だ
動詞普通形 + 始末だ
Explanation
始末だ is used to express that things have turned out in a particular, often undesirable, way. It conveys a sense of resignation or acceptance about the outcome, focusing on the final state of affairs rather than the cause. It can sound a bit blunt or colloquial and is frequently used when reflecting on a situation that has gone wrong or when summarizing the result of events. In usage, you’ll often see a clause before 始末だ describing the situation, followed by だ as the predicative ending. It’s not typically used for neutral descriptions; the nuance is more like “this is how it ends” or “this is what has happened.”.
こんな有様は、これで始末だ。
こんなありさまは、これでしまつだ。
This mess is the end of it; this is what happened.
こんな始末だとは思わなかった。
こんなしまたくだとはおもわなかった。
I never thought things would turn out like this.
これで始末だ。二度と同じことは起きないようにしよう。
これでしまつだ。にどとおなじことはおきないようにしよう。
This is the end of it. Let’s make sure the same thing doesn’t happen again.
彼の失敗は自業自得の始末だ。
かれのしっぱいはじごうじとくのしまつだ。
His failure is the result of his own actions.
この書類の不備、これで始末だ。
このしょるいのふび、これでしまつだ。
This is the end result of the missing details in these documents.