connective N4 common casualpolitewritten
なくても — even if not ~
なくても
Builds on なくて
Meaning
- even if not ~ / even without ~ing — the result holds regardless of the negative condition
Key sentence
急がなくても間に合う。
We'll make it even if we don't hurry.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Negative なくて + も | Vない→Vなくても / Aく→Aくなくても / Nで→Nでなくても | 高くなくてもいい (it doesn't have to be expensive) |
Examples
明日雨が降らなくても、傘を持っていく。
I'll take an umbrella even if it doesn't rain tomorrow.
説明書を読まなくても使える。
You can use it even without reading the manual.
Easily confused with
Notes
- By far the most common pattern built on this is 〜なくてもいい ('don't have to ~' / 'it's fine not to ~': 行かなくてもいい = 'you don't have to go') — worth memorizing as a set phrase.
See なくても in real sentences
Jengo shows なくても 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.