失敗をする
fail
Wörtlich: failure (noun) + to do (verb)
Use 失敗をする to take responsibility for a mistake with humility and clarity.
In 15 Sekunden
- Use it to admit you made a mistake or failed.
- Combine the noun 'shippai' with the verb 'suru'.
- Very common in both daily life and professional settings.
Bedeutung
This phrase is used to say you've made a mistake or failed at something. It's the standard way to admit you goofed up or that a plan didn't work out.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 7Cooking at home
料理で失敗をしてしまった。
I made a mistake while cooking.
After an exam
テストで失敗した。
I failed the test.
In a business meeting
プレゼンで失敗をしてしまいました。
I made a mistake during the presentation.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The Japanese view of failure is deeply tied to the concept of 'hansei' (self-reflection). Admitting to a 'shippai' is often the first step in a formal apology or a process of improvement. The phrase is also part of the famous proverb 'shippai wa seikou no moto,' which encourages persistence.
The 'O' is Optional
In daily speech, Japanese people almost always drop the 'o' and just say 'shippai suru'. It sounds much more fluid and natural!
Don't Label People
Avoid calling a person a 'shippai'. In English, we might say 'He is a failure,' but in Japanese, this is extremely offensive and grammatically awkward.
In 15 Sekunden
- Use it to admit you made a mistake or failed.
- Combine the noun 'shippai' with the verb 'suru'.
- Very common in both daily life and professional settings.
What It Means
This phrase is your go-to for admitting a mess-up. It literally means "to do a failure." It covers everything from burning toast to missing a deadline. It's honest and direct. You are simply stating that things didn't go as planned. It is a very common part of daily life.
How To Use It
You take the noun shippai and add suru. In casual conversation, people often drop the o particle. You will mostly hear it in the past tense: shippai shita. It's like saying "I blew it" or "I failed." If you want to be polite, use shippai shimashita. To sound more natural, you can say shippai shichatta. This adds a little "oops" feeling to the mistake.
When To Use It
Use it when the outcome wasn't what you wanted. Maybe you failed an important exam. Perhaps you bought the wrong train ticket. It works at work, school, or home. It’s perfect for those "oops" moments in life. Imagine you are cooking for a date. You accidentally burn the steak. You would say, shippai shichatta! It shows you recognize the error.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for tiny slips of the tongue. For a small typo, use machigai instead. Shippai feels a bit heavier than a simple "error." Also, don't use it to describe a person as a "failure." That’s too harsh and grammatically different! In Japanese, calling someone a shippaisaku is very mean. Stick to using it for actions and events.
Cultural Background
In Japan, there's a famous proverb: shippai wa seikou no moto. This means "failure is the origin of success." Japanese culture values the effort you put in. Admitting a mistake is seen as humble and responsible. It shows you are willing to learn and improve. There is also a concept called hansei. This means reflecting on what went wrong. Saying you made a shippai is the first step of hansei.
Common Variations
The most common version is shippai shita. If you want to sound more casual, use shippai shichatta. In formal settings, use shippai o itashimashita. This sounds very professional and apologetic. You might hear this from a waiter who dropped a plate. Or a businessman who missed a target. Another common one is shippai shisou, meaning "I'm about to fail." This is great for when you're feeling nervous!
Nutzungshinweise
The phrase is neutral and can be used in almost any context. However, the level of apology attached to it depends on the verb ending (e.g., 'shita' vs 'itashimashita').
The 'O' is Optional
In daily speech, Japanese people almost always drop the 'o' and just say 'shippai suru'. It sounds much more fluid and natural!
Don't Label People
Avoid calling a person a 'shippai'. In English, we might say 'He is a failure,' but in Japanese, this is extremely offensive and grammatically awkward.
The Power of Hansei
If you admit a 'shippai' at work, follow it up with what you learned. This 'hansei' (reflection) is highly respected in Japanese corporate culture.
Beispiele
7料理で失敗をしてしまった。
I made a mistake while cooking.
Using 'shimatta' adds a sense of regret to the failure.
テストで失敗した。
I failed the test.
A very common way for students to express disappointment.
プレゼンで失敗をしてしまいました。
I made a mistake during the presentation.
The polite form 'shimashita' is appropriate for the workplace.
デート、失敗しちゃった！
The date was a total failure!
'Shichatta' is the casual, contracted form of 'shite shimatta'.
ダイエットはまた失敗しました。
The diet failed again.
Using 'mata' (again) adds a humorous touch of self-deprecation.
この度は大きな失敗をしてしまい、申し訳ございません。
I am deeply sorry for making such a big mistake.
Combining 'shippai' with a formal apology shows serious accountability.
試合で失敗をしたけど、次は頑張る。
I messed up in the match, but I'll do my best next time.
Shows a positive attitude toward learning from mistakes.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct form to say 'I made a mistake' casually to a friend.
昨日、仕事で___。
In a casual setting with a friend, the plain past tense 'shippai shita' is the most natural choice.
Complete the sentence to express regret about a mistake.
料理を___しまいました。
To use 'shimau' (regret), you need the 'te-form' of the verb, which is 'shippai shite'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality Levels of 'Shippai o Suru'
Used with close friends, often with 'shichatta'.
失敗しちゃった！
Standard daily use.
失敗した。
Used in business or with superiors.
失敗をしてしまいました。
Used in serious apologies.
失敗をいたしました。
When to say 'Shippai o Suru'
Kitchen Disaster
Burning the dinner
School Life
Failing a difficult exam
Office Work
Sending a wrong file
Social Life
Forgetting a friend's birthday
Häufig gestellte Fragen
11 Fragen'Shippai' is a noun that means 'failure' or 'mistake.' When you add 'suru' (to do), it becomes the verb 'to fail' or 'to make a mistake.'
Yes! 'Machigai' is for simple errors like a typo or a wrong answer. 'Shippai' is for when an action or a whole plan goes wrong, like failing a project.
Yes, but use the polite form shippai shimashita or the humble shippai o itashimashita to show proper respect and accountability.
This is a casual contraction of shippai shite shimatta. The shimatta part adds a feeling of 'oh no' or regret to the mistake.
Absolutely. In casual and even standard polite speech, shippai suru is more common than the full shippai o suru.
You can say shippai suru no ga kowai desu. It's a very natural way to express anxiety about making a mistake.
No, for a machine, you would use koshou (breakdown). Shippai is specifically for human actions or outcomes.
The opposite is seikou suru, which means 'to succeed.'
Younger people might use misu tta (from the English word 'miss'), but shippai shita remains the most common and versatile phrase.
You can, but it might sound a bit dramatic. For small things, machigaeta (I made a mistake) is usually better.
It refers to a 'failed work' or a 'blunder,' like a movie that flopped or a dish that turned out terrible.
Verwandte Redewendungen
間違える
to make a mistake (general)
ミスをする
to make an error (often used at work)
やり直す
to do over / to try again
成功する
to succeed
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