Verb[ないで] (JLPT N4)

About Verb[ないで]

ないでください is a polite way to express 'please don't do (A)'. However, such politeness is often not required, like in conversations between close friends. In these cases, ないで by itself may be used for the same purpose. Although grammatically the same as the ないで with the meaning of 'without doing (A), (B)', rather having a part (A) and a part (B) to the sentence, this ないで acts more like a simple statement.
ないで combines the auxiliary verb ない, with the case marking particle, で. To use this structure, simply attach it to the negative stem of the verb that you wish to request someone not to do. The sentence itself usually finishes with ないで.

先生(せんせい)：「そこの生徒(せいと)、授業中(じゅぎょうちゅう)に寝(ね)ないで！」
Teacher: 'The student there, please don't sleep during class!'
母(はは)が娘(むすめ)に：「知(し)らない人(ひと)についていかないで！約束(やくそく)よ。」
Mother to her daughter: 'Please don't go with people you don't know! That's a promise.'
妻(つま)が夫(おっと)に：「貯金(ちょきん)をしたいから、無駄(むだ)な物(もの)にお金(かね)を使(つか)わないで。」
Wife to her husband: 'I want to save up, so please don't use money recklessly.'

Synonyms

Examples

姉(あね)が弟(おとうと)に言(い)う：「頼(たの)むから、親(おや)には何(なに)も言(い)わないで。」
Elder sister speaking to her younger brother: 'I am asking you, so (please) don't tell our parents.'
母親(ははおや)が子供(こども)に言(い)う：「お父(とう)さんはまだ寝(ね)ているので、大(おお)きい声(こえ)を出(だ)さないでね。」
Mother speaking to her child: 'Since dad is still sleeping, (please) don't talk loudly.'
ね is used when requesting confirmation or agreement, it expresses the hope that the listener will understand the speaker's expectation, therefore it can make the request even softer. ないでね is often used when speaking to children.
母親(ははおや)が子供(こども)に言(い)う：「いい子(こ)だから、泣(な)かないでね。」
Mother speaking to her child: 'You are a good child, so (please) don't cry, okay? '
寝(ね)る前(まえ)に携帯(けいたい)を使(つか)ったり、おかしを食(た)べたりしないで。
Before going to bed, (please) don't do things like use your phone or eat candy.
食(た)べてからジェットコースターに乗(の)らないで。
(Please) don't ride a rollercoaster after eating.
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Verb[ないで] – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (14 in total)

Soryo
Yeah, and it’s still the case. The explanation is about “without doing” and not the casual request structure
henriqueblang
Bumping for the aforementioned reasons.
Asher
Will fix this tomorrow! Apologies for the delay everyone

Update - Fixed! Once again, apologies for the delay on this one everyone. The description has been rewritten, and new example sentences have also been provided.