そびれる

そびれる is a suffix attached to the verb stem (ます-stem) to express that someone missed the chance or failed to do something they intended to do. It conveys the nuance that the speaker wanted or planned to do something but the opportunity slipped away – due to timing, hesitation, circumstances, or simply forgetting. It carries a sense of mild regret or frustration.

The structure is:

V[ます-stem] + そびれる

• ゆう言う → 言い → 言いそびれる (to miss the chance to say)
• たべる食べる → 食べ → 食べそびれる (to miss the chance to eat)
• かう買う → 買い → 買いそびれる (to miss the chance to buy)
• きく聞く → 聞き → 聞きそびれる (to miss the chance to ask)

Nuance

Unlike simply saying 〜～なかった (didn't do), そびれる implies that the speaker had the intention to do the action but couldn't carry it out for some reason. It is not used when someone deliberately chose not to do something.

Compare:

• かれ彼にでんわ電話しなかった。 – I didn't call him. (neutral – could be intentional)
• かれ彼にでんわ電話しそびれた。 – I missed my chance to call him. (implies I meant to but couldn't)

Conjugation

Since そびれる is a る-verb, it conjugates normally:

• Past: 言いそびれた
• Negative: 言いそびれない
• て-form: 言いそびれて
• Polite: 言いそびれました

Related expressions

～損なう（そこなう） is a similar grammar point meaning "to fail to do" or "to miss doing," but it can also carry the nuance of doing something poorly. そびれる focuses specifically on missing the opportunity or timing.