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Grammar detail: ずじまい

ずじまい  ended up not ~
109 words
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verb negative stem + ず
+
じまい
means
ended up not ~
ずじまい is used to describe a situation in which a desired intention or outcome, in the end, did not occur. In most cases it conveys a sense of regret that X did not eventuate.
When X is something the speaker intended to do, it is often something they were planning to do for some time and the feeling of missed opportunity is strong.
じまい; meaning 'an end', reinforces the sense that there won't be another chance for X to occur.
カメラ
っていった
つか
使
わず
じまいだった
I took my camera, but ended up not using it.
まんが
漫画
いっぱい
った
けど
けっきょく
結局
まず
じまい
ってしまった

I bought lots of manga, but ended up selling them without ever reading them.
かのじょ
彼女
ほんとう
本当
きも
気持
つた
えず
じまい
きこく
帰国
してしまった

I ended up going back to my home country without telling her my true feelings.
さつじん
殺人
どうき
動機
さえわからずじまいだった
In the end not even a motive for the murder was uncovered.
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Kanji used in this grammar

ジ   も to hold, to have   
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使
シ   つか to use   
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マン    random, aimless   
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ガ   カク   draw
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バイ   か to buy   
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ケツ   むす    ゆわえる to bind   ゆ to braid   
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キョク    office   
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ドク   トク   トウ   よ to read   
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バイ   う to sell   うれる to be selling; be in demand   
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ヒ   かれ he   
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ジョ   ニョ   ニョウ   woman; female   おんな woman   め woman   
ホン   book   もと origin   
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トウ   あてる    あたる to hit   
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キ   ケ    spirit   
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デン   つたえる to tell, transmit   つたわる to be handed down   つた to go along   
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キ   かえ to return   かえ to send back, give back   
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コク   くに country   
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サツ   サイ   セツ   ころ to kill   
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ジン   ニン   ひと person   
ドウ   うご to move, to stir   うごかす to shift, to move   
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キ    machine   はた loom   
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