「〜ないで」- Doing Something Without Doing Another

Explanation

「〜ないで」 is a commonly used Japanese grammar point that indicates doing one action without doing another. Its typical structure is 「Verbない form + ないで」, and it is used to describe situations where one action is performed directly without completing the previous action.

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
Verbない form + ないで	Verbない form + ないで	Indicates doing the latter action without doing the former, often expressing skipping one action to do another.

Basic Usage

「〜ないで」 is used to connect two relatively independent actions, showing a sequential relationship. This structure conveys the idea of performing one action directly without doing another.

Examples

• 昨日きのうは歯はを磨みがかないで寝ねました。
• Kinou wa ha o migakanai de nemashita.
• Yesterday, I went to bed without brushing my teeth.
  

Deep Dive

In daily conversations, 「〜ないで」 is widely used in various contexts, including daily life and work scenarios. Below are some more complex examples of its usage:

• Indicating skipping one action to do another:
  • 彼かれは何なにも言いわないで出でていった。
  • Kare wa nani mo iwanai de deteitta.
  • He left without saying anything.
    

• Indicating omitting a process:
  • 宿題しゅくだいをししないで遊あそびに行いった。
  • Shukudai o shinaide asobi ni itta.
  • I went out to play without doing my homework.
    

Common Mistakes

• Be mindful of the independence of actions when using 「ないで」:

  • Unlike 「〜なくて」, the actions connected by 「〜ないで」 are usually independent rather than causally related.

• 「なくて」 cannot replace 「ないで」:

  • For example: 昨日きのうは歯はを磨みがかなくて寝ねました。 (Incorrect usage)

Real-Life Scenarios

• Dialogue 1:

  • A: 昨日きのうは何なにをしましたか？

  • What did you do yesterday?

  • B: 昨日きのうは勉強べんきょうしないでテレビてれびを見みていました。

  • Yesterday, I watched TV instead of studying.

  • A: そうですか。

  • I see.

• Dialogue 2:

  • A: どうして遅おくれたの？

  • Why were you late?

  • B: 目覚めざましをかけないで寝ねてしまったんです。

  • I fell asleep without setting the alarm.

  • A: そうだったんだ。

  • I see.

Through the above dialogues, you can see how 「〜ないで」 is used in real-life conversations. This grammar structure not only clearly conveys meaning but also makes the conversation flow more naturally.

Summary

「〜ないで」 is a commonly used Japanese grammar point for expressing doing something without doing another. By understanding and using this structure correctly, your Japanese expressions can become more accurate and vivid.