Structure
Verb[ない]+ で
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Standard
使用域
一般
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.
(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.
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.
- 魚を焼かないで食べたから、お腹を壊した。Since I ate fish without cooking it, I got a stomach ache. (Literally, to break one's stomach)
- アミはドアのカギをかけないで寝るの?危ないよ。Ami, you sleep without locking your doors? That's dangerous.
- 上司に伝えないで休んだの!?You took the day off without notifying your boss!?
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.
- 昼ご飯を温めないで食べた。I ate my lunch without heating it up. (Event 2 happened without event 1)
- インターネットが繋がらなくて困ってる。I am bothered because the internet isn't connecting. (Event 2 happened because of event 1)
Synonyms
ないでください
Please don't (Polite request)
Not studied yet
な
Do not, Don't (Prohibitive)
Not studied yet
ずに
Without doing
Not studied yet
なくて
To not ~ and ~, Not ~ and ~ (Conjugations)
Not studied yet
Verb[ないで]
(Please) do not (for me), Casual request
Not studied yet
なくて
Not ~ and, Not so, Because not (Examples)
Not studied yet
Antonyms
Examples
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.
「遊ばないで、勉強をしてください」ってお母さんが言いました。
My mother said 'Please study without playing!'
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なくて vs ないで
BriefJapanese
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Genki II 1st Edition
Page 161
みんなの日本語 I
Page 110 [CH 17]
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 191
みんなの日本語 II
Page 60 [CH 34]
Marugoto Elementary 2 (A2) Rikai
Page 108
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 271
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 279
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 35
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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)
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