Structure
Verb［ない］+ で
Details
Register
Standard
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.
Antonyms
Related
Examples
--:--
Get more example sentences!
Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.
休まないで仕事をする。
To work without taking a break.
「後悔しないで生きたい。」
'I want to live without regret.'
「あの人は便所から手を洗わないで出てきたんだよ。」
'That person left the toilet without washing their hands!'
夕食を食べないで、寝る。
To go to bed without eating dinner.
「昨日、うちの娘は頭をぶつけたけど、泣かないで『大丈夫だよ』とだけ言ったんだ。本当に驚いた。」
'Yesterday, my daughter hit her head, but without crying, she just said 'I'm fine.' I was really surprised.'
Self-Study Sentences
Study your own way!
Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.
Online
なくて vs ないで
BriefJapanese
Offline
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 35
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 271
Genki II 1st Edition
Page 161
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 191
Marugoto Elementary 2 (A2) Rikai
Page 108
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 279
みんなの日本語 I
Page 110 [CH 17]
みんなの日本語 II
Page 60 [CH 34]
Track Resources!
Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.
ないで – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (15 in total)
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
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
言わないで（ください）
Don’t say it (please)
Got questions about ないで? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!
Join the Discussion