Look at these two sentences:
A. 顔を洗わないで会社に行った。 B. このラーメンはおいしくなくて安くない。
A uses ないで, B uses なくて. Both involve negation, but they function completely differently.
ないで: Didn't Do A, Went Ahead and Did B
ないで can only attach to verbs, meaning "without doing action A, did action B."
Conjugation
Verb ない-form → keep ない → add で = ないで
| Verb | ない-form | ないで |
|---|---|---|
| 洗う | 洗わない | 洗わないで |
| 食べる | 食べない | 食べないで |
| する | しない | しないで |
Examples
-
今日は顔を洗わないで会社に行った。 → Today I went to work without washing my face.
-
朝ご飯を食べないで学校に来ました。 → I came to school without eating breakfast.
-
傘をささないで歩いた。 → I walked without opening an umbrella.
-
辞書を使わないで読んでみてください。 → Please try reading it without using a dictionary.
ないで emphasizes "should have done A, but didn't, and went straight to B."
Another Use of ないで: Requesting Someone Not to Do Something
ないで can also be used to ask someone not to do something (a casual version of ないでください):
- 行かないで。 → Don't go.
- 心配しないでください。 → Please don't worry.
なくて: Negative Listing / Negative Reason
なくて has broader functionality — it can attach to verbs, adjectives, and nouns, expressing either negative listing or negative cause.
Conjugation
| Word Type | Original | なくて |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | 行かない | 行かなくて |
| い-adjective | おいしくない | おいしくなくて |
| な-adjective | 静かではない | 静かではなくて |
| Noun | 学生ではない | 学生ではなくて |
Use 1: Listing (Not A, and also not B)
-
このラーメンはおいしくなくて安くない。 → This ramen is neither tasty nor cheap.
-
この部屋は広くなくて明るくない。 → This room is neither spacious nor bright.
Use 2: Reason (Because not... so...)
-
お金がなくて買えません。 → I can't buy it because I don't have money.
-
時間がなくて行けなかった。 → I couldn't go because I didn't have time.
-
漢字が分からなくて困っています。 → I'm struggling because I don't know the kanji.
The Key Difference
| ないで | なくて | |
|---|---|---|
| What it attaches to | Verbs only | Verbs, adjectives, nouns |
| Core meaning | Didn't do A, did B instead | Negative listing / negative reason |
| Example | 食べないで出た (left without eating) | おいしくなくて高い (not tasty and expensive) |
The quickest way to decide: If it's about the relationship between two actions (didn't do A, did B), use ないで. If it's a negative adjective/noun or expressing a reason, use なくて.
Important: Adjectives and Nouns Can Only Use なくて
This is crucial — adjectives and nouns cannot use ないで:
- おいしくなくて安くない ○
- おいしくないで安くない ✗
Self-Test
Q1. 「朝ご飯を＿＿学校に来た。」(Came to school without eating breakfast)
Show answer
食べないで. This is "didn't do A, did B instead" — didn't eat, came to school. Use ないで.
Q2. 「この店は有名＿＿人が少ない。」(This store isn't famous, so there aren't many people)
Show answer
ではなくて / じゃなくて. Negative reason with a な-adjective/noun uses なくて.
Q3. 「彼女は笑わ＿＿話を聞いていた。」(She listened without laughing)
Show answer
ないで. This is "did B without doing A" — listened without laughing. Use ないで.
Summary
- ないで = did B without doing A (verbs only)
- なくて = negative listing / negative reason (verbs, adjectives, and nouns)
- Adjective and noun negation can only use なくて, never ないで
- ないで can also be used to request someone "don't do X"