Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 1: 14/18

ないで

Without doing, Not ~ and ~

Structure

Verb［ない］+ で

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About ないで

There are two primary ways in which ないで is used with verbs in Japanese. The first is to express 'without doing (A), (B)'. The second is to request that someone 'not do (A)'. We will examine the first in this write-up.
ないで is a combination of the auxiliary verb ない, and the particle で. Due to this, で keeps its standard meaning of 'with/by', in relation to 'not' doing something.
  • 魚(さかな)を焼(や)かないで食(た)べたから、お腹(なか)を壊(こわ)した。
    Since I ate fish without cooking it, I got a stomach ache. (Literally, to break one's stomach)
  • アミはドアのカギをかけないで寝(ね)るの？危(あぶ)ないよ。
    Ami, you sleep without locking your doors? That's dangerous.
When ないで is used to express that '(A) has not been done before doing (B)', this is usually contrary to some kind of expectation. Because of this, ないで is often used to express something that may be surprising to the listener.
  • 上司(じょうし)に伝(つた)えないで休(やす)んだの！？
    You took the day off without notifying your boss!?
Caution
Be careful of the following two structures:
(A) ないで (B) - Without doing (A), (B)
(A) なくて (B) - Without doing (A), (B)
Technically, these two constructions share a similar meaning. However, in modern Japanese ないで is used more frequently when the (B) action is being highlighted as being done without (A). On the other hand, なくて is used when (A) is being given as a reason for why something else was/wasn't done.
  • 昼(ひる)ご飯(はん)を温(あたた)めないで食(た)べた。
    I ate my lunch without heating it up. (Event 2 happened without event 1)
  • インターネットが繋(つな)がらなくて困(こま)ってる。
    I am bothered because the internet isn't connecting. (Event 2 happened because of event 1)

Examples

  • 休(やす)まないで仕事(しごと)をする。

    To work without taking a break.

  • 「後悔(こうかい)しないで生(い)きたい。」

    'I want to live without regret.'

  • 「あの人(ひと)は便所(べんじょ)から手(て)を洗(あら)わないで出(で)てきたんだよ。」

    'That person left the toilet without washing their hands!'

  • 夕食(ゆうしょく)を食(た)べないで、寝(ね)る。

    To go to bed without eating dinner.

  • 「遊(あそ)ばないで、勉強(べんきょう)をしてください」ってお母(かあ)さんが言(い)いました。

    My mother said 'Please study without playing!'

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ないで – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (15 in total)

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    Hey

    You are correct:+1:

    ないで is not necessarily prohibitive, it means “…not, and…” or “…without…”. It is basically used to connect two clauses, like て form.
    Though it is used in ...

  • Meatdog

    Meatdog

    Can we get some examples for this grammar point when it expresses “The second is to request that someone ‘not do (A)’.”?

    Every example sentence I’ve found ultimately fits in the first grammar point “The first is to express ‘without doing (A), (B)’.”

    What would an example of a request to no do (A) look like?

  • IcyIceBear

    IcyIceBear

    言わないで（ください）
    Don’t say it (please)

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