Meaning & usage
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.
Example sentences 5
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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!
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学校行かないで、家でゲームしたらダメ？
Can't I just stay home and play video games instead of going to school?
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動かないでください。
Don't move, please.
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そんなの気にしないで。
Don't worry about that.
In past JLPT papers
This came up in 26 past exam questions.
And 20 more tests.
