Structure Legend
Structure
Verb [ない-stem] + ずには + おかない
Verb [ない] + では + おかない
Exception:
する→せずにはおかない
Verb [Negative] + では + おかない
Details
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Standard
使用域
一般
About ずにはおかない
ずにはおかない is a combination of the classical auxiliary verb ず, the case-marking particle に, the adverbial particle は, and the standard negated form of the う-Verb 措く, 措かない, ‘to set aside’, or ‘to leave as is’. It is interpreted as ‘(A) will definitely happen’, or ‘I will not fail to (A)’.
This is a formal expression that literally means ‘I cannot leave it as it is with (A) undone’, and therefore indicates strong will to complete the action that is reflected in the standard translations.
As this structure begins with ず, it will only be used with verbs.
This is a formal expression that literally means ‘I cannot leave it as it is with (A) undone’, and therefore indicates strong will to complete the action that is reflected in the standard translations.
As this structure begins with ず, it will only be used with verbs.
-
あんなひどいことをした人だから、警察も捕まえずにはおかないだろう。I am sure the police will not fail to arrest that person, since they did something so horrible.
- メディアにも取り上げられたから、警察も調査をせずにはおかない。Since it was covered by the media, the police will certainly investigate.
-
こんなことをされたのだから、お客さんも訴えないではおかないだろう。Since they did such a thing to the customers, they would certainly sue them.
- この犬は30キロになるから、躾に力を入れないではおかない。Since this dog will become 30kg, I will not fail to train him.
Caution
Due to this grammar expression showing strong will to not give up until (A) is done, it will often be used with causative verbs in (A). This indicates that the speaker is determined not to quit until they can make another person do something.-
あの人のスピーチは聞く人を感動させずにはおかない。That person’s speech will not fail to move the audience.
Examples
小説、勇者:「どんな手段を用いても、かならず魔王を倒さずにはおかない。」
Novel: 'No matter what it takes, I will not fail to defeat the Demon Lord!'
「私はきっと彼に同じ手で仕返しをしないではおかない。」
'I won't fail to pay him back in his own coin.'
「警察はすべての悪者に必ず罰を与えずにはおかない。」
'The police will not fail to punish all the wicked people.'
「彼はまた私との約束をすっぽかした。絶対に彼に『ごめんなさい』と言わせずにはおかない。」
'He skipped our appointment again. I won't fail to get him to say "I'm sorry".'
小説:「探偵は『この残虐行為の責任者を訴追せずにはおかない』と意を決する。」
Novel: 'The detective resolved himself, "I won't fail to bring the person responsible for this atrocity to justice".'
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ずにはおかない – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (3 in total)
wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV
About 1 year ago
The verb here is 置く right? I’m trying to internalize what this means literally, although I suspect this is going to trip me up the same way ずにはいられない・てはいられない・わけにはいかない continue to.
Fuga
About 1 year ago
Hey @wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV !
The おく used here is actually 措く, which mean to ‘stop something in the middle of’. 置くis used for physical things, while 措く is used for something more conceptual.
箸を置く。is ‘to place your chopsticks down’, but 箸を措く。means ‘to stop eating’.
So the literal meaning of 〜ずにはおかない, would be ‘would certainly not stop without [verb]’. So, for example, 絶対に彼に「ごめんなさい」と言わせずにはおかない’s literal translation would be ‘I will certainly not stop without making him say that he is sorry’ with the nuance of ’ I won’t fail to get him to say ‘I’m sorry’ because the speaker has a strong will to make the person say that he is sorry, and there is nothing that will stop the speaker from doing so.
I hope that answers your question!
wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV
About 1 year ago
はい、分かりました。お手伝いいただきありがとう。
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