connective N2 uncommon casualpolitewritten
ないでも — even without ~ing
ないでも
Builds on ないで
Meaning
- even without ~ing / even if one doesn't ~ — the result holds whether or not the action is done
Key sentence
そんなに急がないでも、間に合いますよ。
You'll make it even without rushing like that.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb ない-form + でも | V-ない + でも | 言わないでも / 来ないでも |
Examples
説明書を読まないでも使えるほど簡単だ。
It's simple enough to use even without reading the manual.
わざわざ来ないでも、電話で済みますよ。
It can be handled by phone — you don't even need to come.
言わないでも、君の気持ちは分かっている。
Even without your saying it, I understand how you feel.
Easily confused with
〜なくても Near-identical 'even if not ~.' なくても is the standard form. ないでも (でも on the ないで-form) is a touch more colloquial and leans toward 'without the action' rather than the pure conditional 'if not.' 〜ないで ないで means 'without ~ing' (the action simply doesn't happen). Adding も (ないでも) makes it concessive — 'even without ~ing, the result still holds.'
See ないでも in real sentences
Jengo shows ないでも the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar.