Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| おっと | otto | [o̞t̚to̞] (narrow) |
| しまった | shimatta | [ɕima̠t̚ta̠] (narrow) |
| はあ | hā | [ha̠ː] (narrow) |
These terms are used to acknowledge minor mistakes, accidents or sudden realizations of errors. おっと is used to express a minor mistake or accident, particularly when you almost trip, almost drop something or make a sudden physical movement. しまった is used when something actually goes wrong or when you realize you have forgotten something, often carrying a sense of regret or frustration. Other informal exclamations used for sudden realizations of a mishap include あっ！ and うわっ！, while はあ is also a way to express a similar sentiment.
What does it mean word for word?
In this context, it carries the sense that an action has ended up happening unintentionally, often with a sense of regret.
Which one should you use?
While all these terms relate to mistakes, they differ in nuance: おっと is similar to 'whoops' and is used for near-misses or sudden physical movements. In contrast, しまった is more like 'darn it' or 'shoot' and is used when a mistake has actually occurred.
How do you pronounce it?
otto
Did you know?
- The word しまった can also be used as a verb meaning 'to put something away', such as placing clothes in a drawer.
- Depending on the tone and length of the vowel, はあ can shift from meaning 'oops' to meaning 'yes' or expressing a deep sigh of exhaustion.
- The word しまった shares a conceptual root with the Mandarin phrase 完了, as both use the idea of 'finishing' or 'ending' to express that a mistake has been made.
Examples in context
- しまった！姉ちゃんの好きなパーカー縮んじゃった！Oops, I shrunk my sister's favorite hoodie.This sentence is useful for seeing how to express regret when a mistake has occurred using しまった.Tatoeba #10744707 by DJ_Saidez, translation #2695488 by Hybrid
- あっ！間違えた！Oops! I made a mistake!
- おっと、鍵を忘れた。otto, kagi o wasureta.Oops, I forgot my keys.
- おっと、コップを倒しちゃった。otto, koppu o taoshichatta.Oops, I knocked over the cup.
Example conversation
Hiyori and Daito are cleaning a table together.
- 陽葵 Himariおっと、皿を落としそうになった。Otto, sara o otoshisō ni natta.Oops, I almost dropped the plate.
- 大翔 Hiroto気をつけてね、陽葵。Ki o tsukete ne, Hiyori.Be careful, Hiyori.
- 陽葵 Himari大丈夫、ちゃんと持ってるよ。Daijōbu, chanto motteru yo.I'm okay, I have a good grip on it.
- 大翔 Hirotoよかった。ゆっくりやってね。Yokatta. Yukkurī yatte ne.That's a relief. Just take your time.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “oops” translations and entries おっと, しまった, はあ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries おっと, しまった, はあ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
