Japanese grammar
What does ～ないで mean? Japanese grammar N4
～ないで means without doing A (do B instead); don't do ~.
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | V ない + で + (following clause) V ない + でください (please don't ~) V ない + で + ほしい (I hope you won't ~) |
| Romaji | ~ naide |
| Meaning | without doing A (do B instead); don't do ~ |
Forming it
| Casual | V ない + で (心配しないで！) |
|---|---|
| Negative request | V ない + でください |
| Connecting sentences | V ない + で, ～ (食べないで、行きました) |
How to use it
Expressing doing one thing without doing another; or asking someone not to do something.
- ～ないで has two different roles that need to be distinguished. (1) Connecting sentences: "in the state of not doing A, do B" — 傘を持たないで出かけました (went out without bringing an umbrella). (2) Request: ～ないでください = "please don't do it."
- The most important point, and where Vietnamese learners make the most mistakes: distinguishing ～ないで from ～なくて. ～ないで is used when A and B are done by THE SAME PERSON, and A is an "accompanying state" of B. ～なくて is used when A is the CAUSE of B (including emotions): バスが来なくて、遅刻しました (the bus didn't come so I was late) — here ないで cannot be used.
- Practical tip: if the following clause is an emotion/unintended result (残念です, 困りました, 遅刻しました), it's almost certainly ～なくて. If the following clause is an active action by the same person, it's ～ないで.
- Context: ～ないでください with a peer/subordinate. With a superior, soften a request not to do something: ご遠慮いただけますでしょうか.
Examples
昨日は晩ごはんを食べないで寝ました。
Yesterday I went to bed without eating dinner.
ここに車を止めないでください。
Please do not park your car here.
心配しないで。私が手伝うから。
Do not worry. I will help you.
Keep in mind
- ～ずに (N4-088) is the written version of meaning (1), but CANNOT replace ～ないでください (meaning 2).
- The casual version of the request is dropping ください: 泣かないで (don't cry).
Common mistakes
-
Wrongバスが来ないで、遅刻しました。
The bus didn't come, so I was late.
Correctバスが来なくて、遅刻しました。
This is a CAUSE-EFFECT relationship (the bus didn't come so I was late) → must use ～なくて, not ～ないで.
-
Wrong先生、教室で食べないでください。
Teacher, please don't eat in the classroom.
Correct先生、教室でのお食事はご遠慮いただけますでしょうか。
～ないでください is still a negative command — saying it directly to a teacher is impolite. With a superior, it must be softened with honorific language.
-
Wrong傘を持たなくて出かけました。
I went out without bringing an umbrella.
Correct傘を持たないで出かけました。
"Doing without doing A" uses 「ないで」; 「なくて」is only used to state a cause.
Exam tips
- A classic N4 trap: choosing between ～ないで and ～なくて. Look at the latter clause — emotion/passive result → なくて; active action → ないで.