Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 8: 21/23

無(な)しWithout, No

Structure

Noun + なしで（は）
Phrase + なしだ
Noun + なし + の + Noun

Details

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    Formal

About なし

Although it is used almost exclusively as a suffix, なし is actually a noun that means ないこと 'thing without'. なし, or 無(な)し when using kanji, will be used after nouns that it is indicating as 'not having (A)'.

Depending on what the speaker wants to convey, なし is often partnered with the auxiliary verb だ, or its conjunctive form で. なしで will mean '(A) that is without (B)'. When connected directly to another noun, の will be required after なし. Again, this will mean '(A) that is without (B)'.

なし does not always need to be connected directly to another noun. Often, it can be used in reference to an event or thing that someone wants to skip, or avoid. In cases like this, it may be paired with the case marking particle に, to show determination to avoid something.

Caution

無(な)し is quite different to 抜(ぬ)き, another suffix-like structure that is used to convey 'without (A)'. The primary difference is in the original meanings of these words. Having a relationship with ない, なし simply means 'without'. 抜(ぬ)き comes from the う - Verb 抜(ぬ)く 'to remove'. Due to this, 抜(ぬ)き implies the intentional removal of something. Often 抜(ぬ)き and 無(な)し are interchangeable, but not always.

  • わさび抜(ぬ)きでお願(ねが)いします。
    Remove the wasabi please.
  • 唐辛子(とうがらし)無(な)しでお願(ねが)いします。
    Without the red peppers please.

Examples

--:--

    ことわざ：「死人(しにん)に口(くち)無(な)しだ。」

    Proverb: 'Dead men tell no tales.' (Literally - Without a mouth)

    告白(こくはく)：「あなた無(な)しで生(い)きていけない。」

    Confession of love: 'I cannot live without you.'

    商品(しょうひん)ラベル：「砂糖(さとう)無(な)しのダイエットドリンク」

    Product label: 'Diet drink without sugar'

    エッセイ：「今(いま)では現生(げんせい)人類(じんるい)はスマホ無(な)しでは生活(せいかつ)できないだろう。」

    Essay: 'Nowadays, modern humans probably cannot live without smartphones.'

    テスト飛行(ひこう)は文句(もんく)無(な)しの成功(せいこう)でした。

    The test flight was an undisputed success. (without)

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      なし – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (6 in total)

      • Aythreuk

        Aythreuk

      • Pushindawood

        Pushindawood

        @Aythreuk Hey! You are right. It looks like the “formal tags” are not showing up during reviews. You should be seeing “硬” on the grammar point’s main page which indicates that the grammar point is formal. We will update reviews so that they also display the correct tags. Cheers!

      • Aythreuk

        Aythreuk

        I’m a little embarrassed that I didn’t know that about that kanji. Wanikani only taught it to me as meaning ‘stiff’, but with a little hindsight it’s an easy connection to make.

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