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Grammar detail: なき

なき  ~less; without ~; no-one; nothing
130 words
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verb stem
+
なき
means
without ~; ~less
なき is a classical Japanese negative form which roughly means 〜ないこと or 〜ないように in modern Japanese. It is the
れんたいけい
連体形
form of the なし negative form. Both forms are still encountered in modern Japanese, but なき is used as an adjective, whereas なし can be used as a noun.
わす
もの
なきよう
ねが
いします

Please leave nothing behind.
This example might still be seen today, but it would be more common to see the なきよう replaced with ないように.
けってん
欠点
なき
ひと
なし
No man is without his faults.
This example neatly illustrates the difference between なき and なし. Since なき is a
れんたいけい
連体形
form, it cannot be used at the end of the sentence. なし however can. In modern Japanese, the distinction is becoming less clear, and both forms could be replaced with the modern ない.
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Kanji used in this grammar

レン   つれる to take, to lead   つらねる to line up   つらなる to extend   
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タイ   テイ   からだ body   
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ケイ   ギョウ   shape   かたち    かた    
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ゴ   ギョ   honorific prefix   おん-    
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ボウ   わすれる to forget   
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ブツ   モツ   もの thing   
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ガン   ねが to request, to petition   
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ケツ   か to lack   かける to be lacking   
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テン    spot, point   
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ジン   ニン   ひと person   
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