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 | without something | N3 |
ないで naide
Not doing something; a request or command not to do
ないで expresses doing something without doing another action, and it is often used to ask or tell someone not to do something. It attaches to the nai form of a verb, as in 言わないで, 動かないで and しないで, with ください added for a polite request in ないでください. It is not used with nouns or i adjectives, and learners should keep it separate from なくて, which links states or reasons rather than requests.
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これは親には言わないで下さい。
Please don't tell this to your parents.
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グズグズしてないでさっさと行動しろ！
Quit lazing around and get moving!
なしに nashini
without something
なしに means an action happens without something that would normally accompany it, like permission, notice, or preparation. It follows a noun, often in the pattern Noun + なしに, and も or は can be added for emphasis, as in 断りもなしに or テレビなしには, and verb phrases become nouns with こと before it, as in 教えられることなしに. It sounds rather formal and written, so it is common in notices and rules, and the following verb is often negative or potential when stressing that something is impossible without that noun.
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その取り決めは、予告なしに変わることがある。
The arrangements are subject to change without notice.
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彼女は何の断りもなしに私の車を運転した。
She drove my car without so much as asking.
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.