Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 1: 13/18

なくて (Reasons and Causes)Not ~ and, Not so, Because not (Examples)

Structure

Verb［なくて］+ Phrase
［い］Adjective［なくて］+ Phrase
［な］Adjective + ではなくて(1) + Phrase
Noun + ではなくて(1) + Phrase

(1) じゃなくて、でなくて

Details

  • Register

    Standard

About なくて

In Japanese, なくて is a construction that combines ない (in its conjugation form, なく), with the conjunction particle て. This results in the same 'and' meaning as the standard て form, but with the negative meaning of ない.

なくて is often used when the phrase that comes before it is being highlighted as an example/reason for a specific result. In these situations, the translation is usually 'because not (A), (B)', or 'because I didn't (A), (B)'.

When なくて is used in this way, it is often followed by the speaker's feelings (in the form of an adjective), verbs in the potential form, or something that is generally beyond the control of the speaker. It is due to this fact that the result is 'beyond control' that the translation becomes 'because'.

Some examples of words that express things beyond the control of the speaker are 困(こま)る (to be troubled), 嬉(うれ)しい (to be happy), 疲(つか)れている (to feel weary), 心配(しんぱい) (to feel anxiety/worry), 安心(あんしん) (to feel relief).

Related

Examples

--:--

    重病(じゅうびょう)じゃなくてホッとした。

    I was relieved because it wasn't a serious illness.

    「お茶(ちゃ)しか出(だ)さなくてすみません。」

    'I am sorry because I cannot serve you anything but tea.'

    「試験(しけん)に合格(ごうかく)したか分(わ)からなくて不安(ふあん)だね。」

    'I don't know if I passed the exam, and I am anxious.' ('I am anxious because I don't know if I passed the exam')

    「孫(まご)がまだきていなくて心配(しんぱい)です。」

    'My grandchild hasn't come yet and I am worried.' ('I am worried because my grandchild hasn't come yet')

    彼氏(かれし)が子猫(こねこ)が好(す)きじゃなくて、がっかりした。

    My boyfriend doesn't like kittens and I was let down. (I was let down because my boyfriend doesn't like kittens)

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

なくて – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (13 in total)

  • domi650

    domi650

    Thank you for the explanation, that’s probably how it is intended

  • MikkaT

    MikkaT

    Hi, it is probably a bit nitpicky, but I think the structure part in the lesson should be like here in the forum.

    In the lesson it is

  • 2000kanji

    2000kanji

    I think that the example sentence 今日は寒くはなくて… doesn’t match this structure pattern. Where is there a は between 寒く and なくて? Would 寒くなくて be correct, too?

Got questions about なくて? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!

Join the Discussion