Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 10: 1/22

ずにはすまない

Won't get away without, Won't get off without, Have to, Have no choice but to, Can’t not

It is advisable to use ざるをえない or ないわけにはいかない or similar grammar points instead as this expression is not very common.

Structure

Verb[ない] + ずには + すまない
Verb[ない] + では + すまない

Exception:
する→せずにはすまない

Details

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    Formal

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    硬い

About ずにはすまない

ずにはすまない is used to indicate that one ‘has no choice but to (A)’, or ‘won’t get away without doing (A)’. It is a formal expression that is a combination of the negative classical auxiliary verb, ず, the case-marking particle に, the adverbial particle は, and the standard negated form of the う-Verb 済(す)む ‘to come to pass’, or ‘to finish’. Due to this, the more literal translation is ‘it will not come to pass that (A) is not done’, with the more natural English interpretations conveying the same feeling.
As we can assume by this expression beginning with ず, it will exclusively follow verbs.
  • あんなに迷惑(めいわく)をかけてしまったんだから、謝(あやま)らずにはすまないだろう。
    I caused so much trouble, so I won’t get away without apologizing.
  • 取引先(とりひきさき)のお偉(えら)いさんに飲(の)みに誘(さそ)われたから、行(い)かずにはすまない。
    A high-ranking business partner invited me out for a drink, so I have no choice but to go.
  • 会社(かいしゃ)の先輩(せんぱい)からの電話(でんわ)は出(で)ずにはすまない。
    I have no choice but to answer phone calls from my senpai from work.
Just like other instances where ず is used with する, ぜず will be the correct conjugation pattern.
  • やばい、田中君(たなかくん)のゲーム機(き)を壊(こわ)してしまった。これは、弁償(べんしょう)せずにはすまないな。
    Oh shoot, I broke Tanaka-kun’s gaming console. I won't get away without paying him back.
The standard (ない) negative form of a verb may also be followed by ではすまない. This has the same meaning as ずにはすまない.
  • 父(ちち)が大切(たいせつ)にしていた釣竿(つりざお)を折(お)ってしまった。謝(あやま)らないではすまない。
    I accidentally broke a fishing rod my father took great care of. I won’t get away without apologizing.
  • 税金(ぜいきん)は払(はら)わないではすまない。
    You can’t get away without paying taxes.
Caution
This construction will tend to sound unnatural in cases where the speaker only considers (A) to be something that is necessary based on their personal feelings. (A) is usually something that would be the expected course of action according to anyone.

Examples

  • 重要(じゅうよう)な会議(かいぎ)だから、間(ま)に合(あ)わないではすまない。

    It's an important meeting, so I won't get away without making it on time.

  • 彼(かれ)は相談(そうだん)もなく重要(じゅうよう)な道具(どうぐ)を廃棄(はいき)した。首(くび)にならずにはすまないだろう。

    He has scrapped an important tool without consultation. He won't get off without being fired.

  • 私(わたし)は子犬(こいぬ)を助(たす)けるためとはいえ、無断(むだん)で車(くるま)の窓(まど)を破(やぶ)った。罰(ばつ)を受(う)けずにはすまないだろう。

    I broke the window of the car without permission, even though I was trying to save a puppy. I won't get away unpunished.

  • この深刻(しんこく)な問題(もんだい)は難(むずか)しいので、上司(じょうし)に話(はな)さずにはすまないだろう。

    I have no choice but to talk to my boss about it, since it is a serious problem.

  • 大人(おとな)なのだから、知(し)らないではすまないだろう。

    Since you are an adult, you won't get by without knowing it.

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