Components

Grammar detail: 〜ないで vs 〜なくて vs 〜ずに

〜ないで vs 〜なくて vs 〜ずに  the difference between the ないで, なくて, ずに negative joining forms
224 words
My current mastery of this grammar point:
LOG IN to view grammar mastery data
While the て form of a word is standard, in the negative, there are three main variations that have some subtle differences:
〜ないで
,
〜なくて
, and
〜ずに
.
Below we provide a more detailed summary of which construction is used when. One simple rule that can help you remember which form to use is: ないで is the negative て form, なくて is the て form of the negative, and ずに can be used instead of ないで when the meaning is 'without doing'.
Use with adjective
For い or な adjectives, or a noun + ではない, the only form that can be used is なくて. In this context, the meaning is typically '... is not, and ...'.
Negative verb
In general, use ないで, the negative て form of the verb. For example:
かお
あら
わないで
がっこう
学校
きました

I went to school without washing my face.
It's only OK to use なくて when its verb expresses a reason for something. For example:
でんしゃ
電車
なくて
ちこく
遅刻
しました

The train didn't come so I was late.
If the verb is a reason, either form can be used - なくて would emphasize the reason, where ないで would simply describe it.
Standardized form
The なくて and ないで forms are used as part of standardized expressions, and the correct form should be used for the expression.
なくてはいけません ➜ must do
ないではいられません ➜ can't help doing
The expression 'OK not to do' can use either form:
(いか)なくてもいい = (いか)ないでもいい ➜ OK not to (go)
Please LOG IN for free flashcards

Kanji used in this grammar

ガン   かお face   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
セン   あら to wash   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ガク   まな to learn   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
コウ    exam   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
コウ   ギョウ   アン   ゆ    い to go   おこな to take place   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
デン    electricity   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
シャ   くるま car   
ライ   く to come   きた to be forthcoming   きた to induce   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
チ   おそ late   おくれる to be late   おくらす to make late   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
コク   chisel; time   きざ to chisel, engrave   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
Problem with this grammar? Question or comment? Please CONTACT US.
Kanshudo is your AI Japanese tutor, and your constant companion on the road to mastery of the Japanese language. To get started learning Japanese, just follow the study recommendations on your Dashboard. You can use Quick search (accessible using the icon at the top of every page) to look up any Japanese word, kanji or grammar point, as well as to find anything on Kanshudo quickly. For an overview, take the tour.
×