When you want to say “without doing something” in Japanese, you often use ～ずに or ～ないで. These two grammar points are very similar, but they have slightly different nuances and uses. Let’s break them down! ✨

1. ～ずに: A More Formal Expression 📝

✅ Meaning : Without ~ing

Formation:

• Take the verb in its negative form (ない), drop the ない, and add ずに.
• Exception: する → せずに

Examples:

• 朝あさごはんを食たべずに学校がっこうへ行いきました。
  (I went to school without eating breakfast.)
  
• 宿題しゅくだいをせずに寝ねてしまいました。
  (I went to bed without doing my homework.)

Usage:

• Common in written language, news articles, and formal speech.
• Sounds a little more polished or literary.
  

---

2. ～ないで: The Everyday Way 💬

✅ Meaning : Without ~ing

Formation:

• Simply take the verb in ない-form and add で.

Examples:

• 傘かさを持もたないで出でかけました。
  (I went out without taking an umbrella.)
  
• 彼かれは何なにも言いわないで帰かえりました。
  (He left without saying anything.)

Usage:

• Common in spoken Japanese.
• Sounds natural and casual, used in daily conversations.
  

---

3. Comparing ～ずに and ～ないで

Grammar Point	Style & Register	Usage Context	Example
～ずに	Formal, literary, polite	Written texts, reports, speeches, academic writing	宿題しゅくだいをせずに寝ねました。 (I went to bed without doing homework.)
～ないで	Casual, natural, everyday	Spoken Japanese, conversations, informal writing	傘かさを持もたないで出でかけました。 (I went out without taking an umbrella.)

💡 Tip: You can usually swap them, but choose based on situation—formal = ～ずに, casual = ～ないで.

---

4. Useful Example Sentences 📚

• 日本にほんへ行いく時とき、スマホを持もたないで行いく人ひとはいないと思おもいます。
  (When going to Japan, I think nobody goes without taking their smartphone.)
  
• 彼かれは試験しけんの準備じゅんびをせずに受うけました。
  (He took the exam without preparing.)
  
• 音楽おんがくを聞きかないで勉強べんきょうするのは難むずかしいです。
  (It’s hard to study without listening to music.)
  
• 私わたしはお金かねを使つかわずに旅行りょこうしたいです。
  (I want to travel without spending money.)
  

---

5. Quick Tips for Learners 🚀

• If you’re writing an essay, report, or formal email → use ～ずに.
• If you’re speaking with friends or in daily conversation → use ～ないで.
• Always remember the exception: する → せずに (not しずに).

---

✅ Summary:

Both ～ずに and ～ないで express “without doing,” but ～ずに is formal while ～ないで is casual. Mastering these two forms will make your Japanese sound much more natural in both writing and speaking! 🌸e the right one depending on the situation, making your Japanese more accurate and natural.

If you want to learn Japanese, improve your skills, or connect with native speakers and other learners, we can help. We offer one-on-one lessons, a supportive community, and on demand courses.

Website: nihongonana.com
Email: support@nihongonana.com

✅Book 1-on-1 lessons: https://nihongonana.com/lessons/
✅Join our Speaking Club: https://nihongonana.com/community/
✅Join our Course Waitlist: https://nihongonana.com/courses/