N1 Completion and Continuation

~そびれる: meaning, usage and examples

~そびれる means: to miss the chance to... / to fail to...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 質問しつもんしそびれて、結局けっきょくよくわからないままだ。

   I missed the chance to ask and still don't really understand.

2. 買かいそびれた本ほんが、もう売うり切きれてしまった。

   The book I failed to buy is now sold out.

3. 木村きむらさんにお礼れいを言いいそびれたので、後あとでメールを送おくります。

   I missed the chance to thank Mr. Kimura, so I'll send him an email later.

4. 祖母そぼの子供こどもの頃ころの話はなしを、聞ききそびれたままになっている。

   I still haven't gotten around to asking my grandmother about her childhood.

When to use it

Means missing the right moment to do something, so it never gets done: "never got around to," "missed the chance to." Example: 「お礼れいを言いいそびれてしまった」. Common with 言いう, 聞きく, 食たべる, 寝ねる (寝ねそびれる means being unable to fall asleep). The action is usually something small and everyday.

Nuance

Conversational and neutral. Carries light regret. The cause is usually timing or circumstances rather than a big mistake: you were busy, the conversation moved on, it felt awkward. Often followed by てしまう.

Compare

損そこなう / 損そこねる is failing in the attempt: 電車でんしゃに乗のり損そこねた (I tried and missed it). そびれる is not getting the chance: 質問しつもんしそびれた (the right moment never came). 忘わすれる is simply forgetting, with no sense of a missed moment.

Tip: Think "the moment slipped by." Set phrases to learn: 言いいそびれる, 聞ききそびれる, 寝ねそびれる, 食たべそびれる. The cause is timing, not failure.