Structure
Verb［ない］ + ことには + Verb［ない］
［い］Adjective［ない］+ ことには + Verb［ない］
［な］Adjective. + でない + ことには + Verb［ない］
Noun + でない + ことには + Verb［ない］
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About ないことには～ない
ないことには～ない is a 2-part structure in Japanese that is used to express that 'unless you do (A), (B) will not happen or exist'. This is a combination of ない, こと, に, は, and then something followed by ない in the (B) part of the sentence. Literally, it just means 'within the situation of (A) not being a thing, neither will (B)'.
This structure may appear with verbs and い-Adjectives in their ない forms, or nouns followed by でない.
In sentences that use ないことには～ない, (A) can be considered the condition for (B) being able to occur or proceed.
Caution
Occasionally, ないことには will be seen in sentences that do not finish with a word in the negative form. In these cases, ないことには implies that not being in the state of (A) will negatively affect (B). This translates similarly to 'without (A), unfortunately (B)', and often has structures like しまう following (B).
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Examples
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やってみないことには、出来るかどうか分からない。
You won't know if you can do it or not unless you try.
髭を剃らないことには、仕事に行けない。
Unless you shave your facial hair, you cannot go to work.
夫婦では仲良くしないことには、うまくいかない。
Unless married couples get along, things won't go well.
田植えをしないことには、米を収穫できません。
Unless you plant it, you cannot harvest rice.
退院しないことには、仕事復帰できない。
Unless you are released from the hospital, you cannot return to work.
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Negative Patterns
Imabi
ないことには
NihongoDen
ないことには〜ない
絵でわかる日本語
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