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~てしまう both as "regretter" and "terminator" ?

Dennis
Asked 2 years ago

In the lesson "Don't cry over spilled milk" there is the follwing sentence:

先生がおこってしまいました。

When I use the "regretter" meaning of ~てしまいました  to translate  this sentence it would mean something like:

The teacher got angry (which I regret).

But when I use the "terminator" meaning of ~てしまいました it could also be translated as:

The teacher finished being agry.

The first translation seems more likely but the second also seems a plausible translation.

So now, finally, comes my question: Does the meaning of this sentence depend on the context of the story in which it is told or did I miss something?

 

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2 Answers

0
Votes

I am also curious about answer , because i've had the same question when i read that lesson. Yes, there are sentences where both meanings can be plausible. From what i understood, meaning should be evident from context, as you mentioned.

jojkov
Answered 2 years ago

1
Vote
+250

< Te-form (verb)> + 〜しまう can express 1 ) your regret for something you have done, or 2) actions someone or you completely have done. 

For example,

1 )  先生をおこらせてしまいました = I made the teacher angry (which I regret),

2)  先生はおこってしまいました = The teacher completely got angry. 

Can you see the difference?

Aki
Answered 2 years ago

I think I can see the difference. Thank you !

Dennis
Commented 2 years ago