Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 7: 6/18

ないで (Casual Request)

(Please) do not (for me), Casual request

Structure Legend

Structure

Verb[ない]+

Details

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    一般

About Verb[ないで]

In a similar way to how ないでください means 'please don't do (A)', ないで means 'without doing (A)'. This is a construction that combines the auxiliary verb ない, with the case marking particle, .
ないで usually has an (A), and a (B) clause, where the (B) clause will further explain another action that was done 'without doing (A)'.
  • 日本(にほん)(くつ)()ないで(ひと)(いえ)(はい)(おこ)られます
    If you go into someone's house without taking off your shoes, they will get angry at you.
  • (ばん)(はん)()ないで()っていてくれ?ごめん
    You waited for me without eating dinner? Sorry about that!
  • カーテン()ないで()から(あさ)4()()
    I slept without closing the curtain, so I woke up at 4 in the morning.
When using ないで, the (A) phrase is often something that is 'expected' to have been done, and is therefore surprising in some way that (B) happened without it.
  • 昨日(きのう)風呂(ふろ)(はい)ないで()
    Yesterday, I went to bed without taking a shower. (Despite having a shower being expected before bed)
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.
  • (ひる)(はん)(あたた)ないで()
    I ate my lunch without heating it up. (Event 2 happened without event 1)
  • インターネット(つな)がらなくて(こま)てる
    I am bothered because the internet isn't connecting. (Event 2 happened because of event 1)

Examples

  • (あね)(おとうと)():「(たの)から(おや)(なに)()ないで。」

    Elder sister speaking to her younger brother: 'I am asking you, so (please) don't tell our parents.'

  • 母親(ははおや)子供(こども)():「(とう)さんまだ()ているので(おお)きい(こえ)()ないで。」

    Mother speaking to her child: 'Since dad is still sleeping, (please) don't talk loudly.'

    ね is used when requesting confirmation or agreement, it expresses the hope that the listener will understand the speaker's expectation, therefore it can make the request even softer. ないでね is often used when speaking to children.

  • 母親(ははおや)子供(こども)():「いい()だから()ないで。」

    Mother speaking to her child: 'You are a good child, so (please) don't cry, okay? '

  • ()(まえ)携帯(けいたい)使(つか)ったりおかし()べたりないで

    Before going to bed, (please) don't do things like use your phone or eat candy.

  • ()べてからジェットコースター()ないで

    (Please) don't ride a rollercoaster after eating.

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Verb[ないで] – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (12 in total)

  • egaudmorel

    egaudmorel

    About 9 months ago

    Hello, is there a bug or I don’t understand but this lesson seems to have the explanation of the -naide (without doing)

  • busnea

    busnea

    About 6 months ago

    I want to bump this because it just confused me as well.
    It seems the explanation still works but the reviews and the translation at the top of the lesson does not fit the description.

  • Soryo

    Soryo

    About 2 months ago

    Yeah, and it’s still the case. The explanation is about “without doing” and not the casual request structure

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