終わりました
owarimashita
The English phrase "I am done" can be translated into Japanese as 終わりました (owarimashita).
This phrase is used to indicate that a task, a meeting or an event has reached its conclusion. For example, you can use お仕事が終わりました to communicate the completion of job-related tasks in a respectful manner or お食事が終わりました to politely indicate that you have finished your meal.
Which one should you use?
While 終わりました is polite and suitable for work or strangers, the informal version 終わった is used with friends or family. Other informal ways to convey completion include 終わったよ to inform friends that you have finished something, or もうできた to casually state that you have already completed a task.
How do you pronounce it?
owarimashita
Did you know?
- In Japanese food culture, instead of saying 'I am done' with a meal, people often use the set phrase ごちそうさまでした to express gratitude for the food.
- While 終わりました means a task is finished, it does not necessarily mean the person is 'done' in the sense of being exhausted or fed up, which is how 'I am done' is often used in English.
- In a professional setting, saying 終わりました can sometimes sound too blunt. Employees often use 終わりましたので to leave the sentence open, signaling they are ready for the next instruction.
Examples in context
- 宿題が終わりました。Shukudai ga owarimashita.I am done with my homework.
- 会議が終わりました。Kaigi ga owarimashita.The meeting is finished.
- 仕事がやっと終わりました。Shigoto ga yatto owarimashita.I am finally done with work.
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are talking at the office.
- 蓮 Ren美咲さん、仕事は終わりましたか？Misaki-san, shigoto wa owarimashita ka?Misaki, are you done with your work?
- 美咲 Misakiはい、やっと終わりました。Hai, yatto owarimashita.Yes, I am finally done.
- 蓮 Renお疲れ様でした。Otsukaresama deshita.Good job today.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮さんもお疲れ様です。Ren-san mo otsukaresama desu.Good job to you too, Ren.
