conditional N1 uncommon writtenliterary
なくして（は） — without ~ (there can be no ~)
なくして（は）
Meaning
- without ~ (there can be no ~) — naming something indispensable, whose absence makes the result impossible
Key sentence
努力なくして成功はない。
Without effort, there is no success.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (or Vる + こと) | N + なくして(は) + negative/impossible main clause | 支援なくしては |
When: Formal/literary; the main clause must be negative or express impossibility.
Examples
皆様の協力なくしては、この計画は実現しなかった。
Without everyone's cooperation, this project would never have come to fruition.
信頼なくして、良い関係は築けない。
Without trust, you cannot build a good relationship.
Easily confused with
Notes
- The は is optional but very common; なくして alone is even more literary.
See なくして（は） in real sentences
Jengo shows なくして（は） 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.