A: 百均に入ると、何もいらなくても何か買わないと気が済まない人っているんだよね。
B: いるいる。僕だよ。
A: At the dollar store, there is always somebody who has to buy something even if they don't need it.
B: Yes, yes! That's me.
I am told that 気が済まない means "won't be satisfied unless," or when one "must (do something)."
If I translate the expression literally I get confused--
気 spirit/mood/feeling
が
済まない finish; come to an end; excusable; need not
Would anyone be kind enough to give me a clear and thorough explanation of this expression? I think my main confusion is as to which verb 済まない comes from.
Answer
sum-u has several meanings. The core meaning is for something to to come to an end, conclude. From this, it also takes on the meaning for something to be settled, at rest, or under control (as a result of something being concluded). Putting this together, ki ga sum-u is "for ones feelings to be at rest / under control", hence content. The negative form, ki ga sum-a-nai, is "for ones feelings to not be at rest / under control", hence not-content.
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