Japanese grammar
What does ～ずに mean? Japanese grammar N4
～ずに means without doing ~.
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | V ない (drop ない) + ずに する → せずに (irregular) |
| Romaji | ~ zu ni |
| Meaning | without doing ~ |
Forming it
| 来る | 来る → 来ずに (こずに) |
|---|---|
| Group I | 行く → 行かない → 行かずに |
| Group II | 食べる → 食べない → 食べずに |
| する (important exception) | する → せずに (NOT しずに) |
How to use it
The formal, written form of ～ないで.
- ～ずに and ～ないで have exactly the same meaning: "not doing A but doing B". The only difference is REGISTER — ～ずに belongs to written, formal, somewhat old-fashioned language; ～ないで belongs to everyday spoken language.
- Conjugation is very simple: take the ない form, drop ない, add ずに. There is only ONE exception, but it's the most frequently used verb: する → せずに, not "しずに". This is almost a guaranteed question in the N4 exam.
- Because it's written language, this pattern is often found in newspapers, official announcements, company documents, and novels. In everyday conversation using it sounds a bit stiff — but a few phrases have become set expressions and still sound natural when spoken, e.g. 何も言わずに (without saying a word).
- You can drop に to become ～ず to connect within a sentence like a comma, but this way is even more formal and is usually seen from N3 level and above.
Examples
朝ごはんを食べずに、学校へ行きました。
I went to school without eating breakfast.
彼は何も言わずに、部屋を出て行きました。
He left the room without saying anything.
予約せずに来た人は、入れません。
Those who come without a reservation cannot enter.
Keep in mind
- Both ～ずに and ～ないで are NOT used to connect two equal clauses in the sense of "and not". To express "not A and not B", use ～なくて.
- ～ずに isn't used with ある: there is no "あらずに" in modern Japanese.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong宿題をしずに、遊びに行きました。
Instead of doing my homework, I went out to play.
Correct宿題をせずに、遊びに行きました。
する is the only exception: せずに, not しずに. This is the #1 trap of this pattern.
-
Wrong友達に「たくさん食べずにね」と言いました。
I told you, "don't eat too much."
Correct友達に「たくさん食べないでね」と言いました。
～ずに leans toward written/formal language; casual conversation with friends should use ～ないで.
-
Wrong連絡もしずに帰った。
He came home without contacting anyone at all.
Correct連絡もせずに帰った。
「する」 conjugates irregularly into 「せずに」.
-
Wrong心配せずにください。
Please don't worry.
Correct心配しないでください。
A request sentence only uses 「ないでください」; there is no form 「ずにください」.
Exam tips
- A classic question: する → ？ずに. The answer is せずに. Remembering this exception alone is almost a guaranteed point.