GrammarN32 min read2026-02-17

〜ずに

Express negation of an action; means 'without doing' or 'without..., then'

Meaning

〜ずに expresses that an action is not performed before another action occurs. It's a formal written version of 〜ないで, indicating the absence or omission of an action. The に particle can be omitted. Note that する becomes せず(に), following a special conjugation pattern.

Formation

Part of speechFormation
动词(ない形)ず(に)

Examples

  1. 昨日急いで書いた報告書を、確認せずに部長に提出してしまった。
    I rushed and wrote the report yesterday, but submitted it to the department head without confirming it.

  2. あのカップルは誤解を解かずにそのまま別れてしまった。
    That couple broke up as they were without resolving the misunderstanding.

  3. 父は仕事が大変でとても疲れていたので、晩御飯を食べずにそのまま寝た。
    My father was exhausted from work, so he went to bed without eating dinner.

Summary

  • 〜ずに indicates an action that is NOT performed before another action takes place
  • It's primarily used in formal/written contexts; the に particle can be dropped (〜ず)
  • する conjugates specially to せず(に), not さず(に)

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