Structure Legend
Structure
Verb[ない]+ で。
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Standard
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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, で.
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)'.
(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 usually has an (A), and a (B) clause, where the (B) clause will further explain another action that was done 'without doing (A)'.
- 日本では靴を脱がないで人の家に入ると怒られます。If you go into someone's house without taking off your shoes, they will get angry at you.
- 晩ご飯を食べないで待っていてくれたの?ごめんね。You waited for me without eating dinner? Sorry about that!
- カーテンを閉めないで寝たから朝の4時に起きた。I slept without closing the curtain, so I woke up at 4 in the morning.
- 昨日は風呂に入らないで寝た。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.
- 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
Examples
姉が弟に言う:「頼むから、親には何も言わないで。」
Elder sister speaking to her younger brother: 'I am asking you, so (please) don't tell our parents.'
母親が子供に言う:「お父さんはまだ寝ているので、大きい声を出さないでね。」
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.
母親が子供に言う:「いい子だから、泣かないでね。」
Mother speaking to her child: 'You are a good child, so (please) don't cry, okay? '
寝る前に携帯を使ったり、おかしを食べたりしないで。
Before going to bed, (please) don't do things like use your phone or eat candy.
食べてからジェットコースターに乗らないで。
(Please) don't ride a rollercoaster after eating.
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Casual negative request
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Verb[ないで] – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (12 in total)
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
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
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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