終わった
owatta[o̞β̞a̠t̚ta̠]
i finished in Japanese is 終わった (owatta).
This phrase is a statement used to say that a task or activity has been completed. Depending on the context, it can mean 'I finished (something)' or 'Something finished/ended'. In colloquial settings, such as when a game ends or a situation is ruined, it can also be used to mean 'It's all over' or 'I'm doomed'. Other variations include やり終わった to indicate the completion of a specific task, or 終えてしまった, which emphasizes a sense of finality or regret regarding the completion.
Which one should you use?
Because 終わった is an intransitive verb, it can translate to either 'I finished' or 'It finished' depending on the context of the sentence. While 終わった is the standard form, other expressions like 済みました focus specifically on the sense of completion.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 終わった is informal and is used in casual conversation with friends or family. For more polite or formal situations, you should use 終わりました or 終えました. The phrase 済みました is also a polite way to convey completion.
How does it change in a sentence?
終わった is the past tense of the intransitive verb 終わる (to finish or to end). The polite version of 終わった is 終わりました.
How do you pronounce it?
owatta
Did you know?
- The word 済み (sumi) found in 済みました (sumimashita) functions as a way to say something is 'settled' or 'cleared', moving the focus from the end of a process to the state of being processed.
- In Japanese, there is a distinction between 終わる (to end) and 終える (to finish something). The first focuses on the event coming to a close, while the second emphasizes the actor's effort in completing it.
- In many anime-style scenarios, shouting 終わった (owatta) can signal a character's total defeat or a catastrophic failure, rather than just a task being done.
Examples in context
- 食べ終わったよ。I finished eating.This sentence is useful for showing how to say you have finished eating using 終わった.Tatoeba #9800375 by small_snow, translation #9800388 by DJ_Saidez
- 数学の課題は終わったよ。I finished my math assignment.This sentence demonstrates using 終わった to talk about a math assignment.Tatoeba #10698757 by small_snow, translation #1542008 by erikspen
- 宿題は一昨日、終わったよ。I finished my homework the day before yesterday.This sentence shows how to use 終わった when mentioning that homework was finished the day before yesterday.Tatoeba #10191526 by small_snow, translation #9188847 by DJ_Saidez
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At home, a brother asks his sister about her work.
- 陽太 Yota仕事、終わった？Shigoto, owatta?Is your work finished?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、やっと終わったよ。Un, yatto owatta yo.Yeah, I finally finished.
- 陽太 Yotaよかったね。お疲れ様。Yokatta ne. Otsukaresama.That's good. Good job.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとう。やっと休める。Arigatou. Yatto yasumeru.Thanks. I can finally rest.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 終わった, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
