Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 1: 14/18

ないでWithout doing, Not ~ and ~

Structure

Verb［ない］+ で

Details

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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.

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.

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

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    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.

    「昨日(きのう)、うちの娘(むすめ)は頭(あたま)をぶつけたけど、泣(な)かないで『大丈夫(だいじょうぶ)だよ』とだけ言(い)ったんだ。本当(ほんとう)に驚(おどろ)いた。」

    'Yesterday, my daughter hit her head, but without crying, she just said 'I'm fine.' I was really surprised.'

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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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