Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
“Without doing X”
🎯 Primary Function
To indicate that an action was completed or a state was maintained without performing another specific action (X). It often carries a slightly formal or literary nuance compared to 〜ないで or 〜ずに.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb (ない form) + ことなく
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Frequently used in speeches, presentations, and formal announcements.
Informal Situations
Rarely used; sounds stiff and unnatural.
Written Language
Commonly found in articles, reports, official documents, and literature.
Spoken Language
Less common, primarily used in formal or prepared speeches.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing achieving something without difficulty or specific action
Used to state that a goal was reached or an event occurred smoothly, without encountering expected obstacles or taking a particular preventative step.
Example: 彼は一度も休むことなく、2年間働き続けた。
(Kare wa ichido mo yasumu koto naku, 2nenkan hataraki tsuzuketa.)
He continued working for two years without taking a single break.
Maintaining a state without change
Used to describe maintaining a certain condition or state without letting another action or event interrupt it.
Example: 彼女は周りの意見に流されることなく、自分の信念を貫いた。
(Kanojo wa mawari no iken ni nagasareru koto naku, jibun no shinen o tsuranuita.)
Without being swayed by others’ opinions, she stuck to her beliefs.
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Frequency
Moderately frequent in formal and written contexts, infrequent in casual speech.
Difficulty
N2
Example Sentences
会議は特に問題が起こることなく、時間通りに終了した。
The meeting finished on time without any particular problems occurring.
彼は最後まで諦めることなく、困難に立ち向かった。
He faced the difficulties without giving up until the very end.
その女優は、メディアの注目を浴びることなく、静かに暮らしていた。
The actress lived quietly without attracting media attention.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Formality and Written Language
〜ことなく is significantly more formal and primarily used in written language or very formal speech. In daily conversation, 〜ないで or 〜ずに are far more common.
Example: Formal/Written: 彼は何も言うことなく部屋を出て行った。
(Kare wa nani mo iu koto naku heya o dete itta.)
He left the room without saying anything.
Casual/Spoken: 彼は何も言わないで部屋を出て行った。
(Kare wa nani mo iwanai de heya o dete itta.)
Nuance of Achieving Something Despite the Absence of Action
It often implies that a positive outcome was achieved, or a negative outcome was avoided, because a certain action was *not* taken. It can sometimes convey a sense of achievement or determination.
Example: 一度も失敗することなく、プロジェクトを成功させた。
(Ichido mo shippai suru koto naku, purojekuto o seikou saseta.)
I succeeded with the project without failing even once. (Highlights the achievement of no failures).
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using it in casual conversation.
✅ Use 〜ないで or 〜ずに instead.
〜ことなく is too formal for everyday informal speech and will sound unnatural.
❌ Incorrect conjugation.
✅ Ensure you use the ない form of the verb before ことなく.
For example, 食べる (taberu) becomes 食べることなく (taberu koto naku), not 食べるもなく (taberu mo naku) or similar.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: High (Formal)
Social Situations: Formal meetings, speeches, reports, academic writing.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese, no significant regional variations in usage.
🔍 Subtle Differences
〜ことなく vs 〜ないで
〜ことなく is more formal and literary. 〜ないで is the standard, general-purpose way to say “without doing X” in both spoken and written Japanese, and it can also indicate “not doing X, and instead doing Y”.
When to use: Use 〜ことなく in formal writing and speeches. Use 〜ないで in most other situations, especially casual speech or when listing sequential actions (doing Y without doing X first).
〜ことなく vs 〜ずに
〜ずに is also more formal than 〜ないで but generally less formal than 〜ことなく. 〜ずに often emphasizes the state of not having done something.
When to use: Use 〜ことなく for high formality/literary contexts. Use 〜ずに in slightly less formal but still somewhat formal contexts, or when you want to emphasize the *state* of not having done something. 〜ないで is the most versatile.
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📝 Conjugation Notes
Attach to the ない form of verbs (e.g., する → せず/しない → することなく; 食べる → 食べない → 食べることなく; 来る → 来ない → 来ることなく). Note irregular verbs like する and 来る can also use せずに and 来ずに, which might influence how 〜ことなく is felt, though ことなく always attaches to the standard ない-form.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounced smoothly, almost as one unit. The emphasis is typically on the verb before ことなく.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of こと (koto – thing/matter) + なく (naku – without). “Without the matter/act of doing X.” This highlights the *absence* of the action X.
Vocabulary List
困難
konnan
difficulty
立ち向かう
tachimukau
to face, to confront
諦める
akirameru
to give up
故郷
kokyou
hometown
成功する
seikou suru
to succeed
メディア
media
media
注目を浴びる
to attract attention
Kanji List
困難
konnan
difficulty
立ち向かう
tachimukau
to face
諦める
akirameru
to give up
故郷
kokyou
hometown
成功
seikou
success
注目
chuumoku
attention
静か
shizuka
quiet
暮らす
kurasu
to live
住民
juumin
resident
混乱
konran
confusion
避難
hinan
evacuation
Practice Exercises
Which sentence uses ~ことなく correctly?
a) 彼は毎日休むことなく日本語を勉強しています。
b) 彼は毎日休まないことなく日本語を勉強しています。
c) 彼は毎日休みことなく日本語を勉強しています。
d) 彼は毎日休んでことなく日本語を勉強しています。
Choose the best word to complete the sentence: 彼女は一度も___ことなく、目標を達成した。
a) 努力する
b) 諦める
c) 休憩
d) 成功
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