Posted inN3 Grammar

Mastering ずに (zu ni): The “Without Doing” Grammar Pattern for JLPT N3

Posted inN3 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

“without doing something” or “not doing something and…”

🎯 Primary Function

To express that a certain action is not performed, and often serves as a condition or circumstance for the subsequent action or state.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb (Nai-form, remove ない) + ずに Examples: 行く (iku) -> 行かない (ikanai) -> 行かずに (ikazu ni) 食べる (taberu) -> 食べない (tabenai) -> 食べずに (tabezu ni) 来る (kuru) -> 来ない (konai) -> 来ずに (kozu ni) する (suru) -> しない (shinai) -> せずに (sezu ni) – *Irregular*

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Can be used in formal settings, often sounding slightly more formal than -ないで.

😊 Informal Situations

Used, but less common in very casual conversation compared to -ないで.

✍️ Written Language

Frequently appears in written Japanese, such as essays, articles, or formal documents.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used in spoken Japanese, particularly in more structured speech or when a slightly more formal nuance is desired.

💡 Common Applications

Expressing a negative condition or circumstance
Indicates that the main action takes place without the preceding action being performed.
Example: 彼は何も言わずに部屋を出て行った。(He left the room without saying anything.)
Expressing a state resulting from not doing something
Describes a situation where something remains undone, influencing the current state.
Example: 練習せずに試合に出たので、負けてしまった。(Because I didn’t practice, I lost the game.) – Can be interpreted as a reason.
Describing a state of being without something
Used with verbs like いる or ある to describe a state where something is lacking.
Example: めがねをかけずに本を読んでいる。(He is reading a book without wearing glasses.)
📊
Frequency
Moderately frequent, especially in written form and somewhat formal speech.
🎚️
Difficulty
Medium – Conjugation is simple, but distinguishing nuances from -ないで requires practice.
Example Sentences
朝ごはんを食べずに学校に行った。
I went to school without eating breakfast.
彼は何も言わずに私の手を握った。
He held my hand without saying anything.
地図を見ずに目的地に着いた。
I arrived at the destination without looking at a map.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Slightly more formal than -ないで
While similar in meaning, ずに often carries a slightly more formal or literary tone compared to -ないで.
Example: 会議に欠席せずに報告書を出した (Kazugi ni kesseki sezu ni houkokusho o dashita – I submitted the report without being absent from the meeting) sounds slightly more formal than 欠席しないで.
Irregular form for する
The verb する conjugates irregularly to せずに.
Example: 宿題をせずに寝てしまった (Shukudai o sezu ni nete shimatta – I went to sleep without doing my homework). *Incorrect: しずに*

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using しずに instead of せずに
✅ Use せずに for the verb する.
する becomes せずに in this pattern, not しずに.
❌ Forgetting to remove ない from the Nai-form
✅ Conjugate the verb to the Nai-form and then remove the final ない before adding ずに.
Example: 行かない (ikanai) -> remove ない -> 行か (ika) -> add ずに -> 行かずに (ikazu ni). *Incorrect: 行かないずに*

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Moderately formal, generally more formal than -ないで.
Social Situations: Suitable for writing (reports, essays) and somewhat formal speaking situations.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese, no significant regional variations in usage.

🔍 Subtle Differences

ずに vs. ないで
Both mean “without doing X.” ずに is typically more formal or literary. -ないで is more common in casual speech and can also mean “please don’t do X” or describe a simple state.
When to use: Use ずに in writing or when a slightly more formal tone is desired. Use -ないで in casual conversation, when asking someone not to do something, or describing simple states.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

Verb (Nai-form, remove ない) + ずに. Exception: する becomes せずに.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounced “zu ni”. The ‘u’ sound after ‘z’ can sometimes be devoiced, sounding closer to “z-ni”.

🧠 Memory Tips

Remember it as a slightly more formal alternative to -ないで for expressing “without doing.” Focus on the irregular form せずに.

Practice Exercises
会議に（　　）社長は怒っていた。
出るずに
出ずに
出ないずに
出かけずに
約束の時間に（　　）、彼は帰ってしまった。
来るずに
来ずに
来ないで
来るないで
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