How to tell them apart
ないで is the negative て form of a verb, used for everyday actions like 買わないでおく or requests like 帰らないで下さい. なしに is a noun-based phrase meaning without something, often with abstract nouns like 同意なしに or 成果なしに, and sounds more formal. Swapping them is unnatural: you would not say 同意ないに or 買わなしにおく. The key is whether you are negating a verb action or saying something happens without a noun-state.
- ないで Use ないで when you want to say not do a verb action or tell someone not to do something.
- なしに Use なしに when something happens without a noun such as consent or result, often in formal contexts.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| ないで naide | Not doing something; a request or command not to do | N4 |
| なしに nashini | doing something without; continuously, nonstop | N3 |
ないで naide
Not doing something; a request or command not to do
ないで follows the plain negative form of a verb (ない form) and is used to tell someone not to do something, often in requests or commands. It commonly appears with 下さい to soften the request, as in the examples, and can sound direct or casual.
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ふふふ、ごめんあそばせ。気になさらないで下さいな！
Ha-ha-ha, pray forgive me. Please don't worry yourself about that!
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私のチョコレートを食べることを考えさえしないで。
Don't you even think of eating my chocolate!
なしに nashini
doing something without; continuously, nonstop
なしに follows a noun and means an action happens without that thing, most often with nouns like 許可 (permission). It can also appear in the set phrase ひっきりなしに, meaning something happens constantly or nonstop.
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先週から、クレームの電話がひっきりなしにかかってくる。
There's been a constant stream of complaint calls since last week.
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実を言うと、私は父の車を彼の許可なしに運転したのです。
To tell the truth, I drove my father's car without his permission.
ないで and なしに are JLPT N4–N3 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.