How do you say "But it didn’t work." in Japanese?

"But it didn’t work." in Japanese is "でもだめでした。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

What does "でもだめでした。" mean in English?

"でもだめでした。" means "But it didn’t work." in English. Usage tip: A complete, natural follow-up after [切りました] / [入れました]. You can also say [でも直りませんでした].

🙁🚫⚙️

How to Say ‘But it didn’t work.’ in Japanese

でもだめでした。

de mo dame deshi ta

[deh moh dah-meh deh-shee tah]

💬 Usage Tip: A complete, natural follow-up after [切りました] / [入れました]. You can also say [でも直りませんでした].

🇯🇵 In Japan: Stating “I tried X, but it didn’t work” helps the landlord skip repeats and move to calling repair services.

Phrase Breakdown

でも

de mo

but; however

Connects to the previous action: “But (even so)…”. Also used as “even then”.

Example

行きたい。でも、時間がない。

I want to go. But I don’t have time.

Words in this phrase

で

[deh]

but; however (part of でも)

First half of でも. Used to contrast your attempt with the negative result.

Example

ブレーカーを入れました。でもだめでした。

I turned the breaker on. But it didn’t work.

も

[moh]

but; however (part of でも)

Second half of でも. Together: でも = “but/however.”

Example

でもだめでした。

But it didn’t work.

だめ

dame

[dah-meh]

no good; not working

States the outcome: the attempt failed / it didn’t work.

Example

給湯器をリセットしましたが、でもだめでした。

I reset the water heater, but it still didn’t work.

でし

deshi

[deh-shee]

polite copula stem (part of でした)

Part of でした, making the phrase polite for reporting to a landlord.

Example

結局でもだめでした。

In the end, it still didn’t work.

た

[tah]

polite past ending (part of でした)

Completes でした. Past polite form used when describing what happened.

Example

でもだめでした。

But it didn’t work.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”

Mia S., 25, English Teacher

“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”

Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer

“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”

Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager