Please don't: ～ないでください
Verb-ない + でください
Verb-ない + でください = please don't…. Also for reassuring: しんぱいしないで ください.
In short
ない-form + でください = “please don't…”. わすれないで ください (don't forget), ここに おかないで ください (please don't leave anything here).
- しゅくだいを わすれないで ください。shukudai o wasurenaide kudasaiDon't forget your homework.
- ここで しゃしんを とらないで ください。koko de shashin o toranaide kudasaiPlease don't take photos here.
- しんぱいしないで ください。shinpai shinaide kudasaiDon't worry.
The basics
ない-form + でください = “please don't…”. It's the polite negative request, softer than a prohibition.
- ここで しゃしんを とらないで ください。koko de shashin o toranaide kudasaiPlease refrain from taking photos here.
- わすれないで ください。wasurenaide kudasaiPlease don't forget.
Asking, forbidding, allowing
Three similar structures, three nuances.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ～てください | please do… |
| ～ないでください | please don't… |
| ～てはいけません | it's forbidden |
Reassuring someone
～ないでください is also used to reassure: しんぱいしないで ください (don't worry), えんりょしないで ください (don't be shy, help yourself).
- しんぱいしないで ください。shinpai shinaide kudasaiDon't worry.
Common mistakes
- Starting from the て-form: “食べてないでください” is wrong, it's 食べないで ください.
- Forgetting で: “食べないください” is wrong.
- Taking ～ないでください for a firm prohibition: it's a request; the strict rule is ～てはいけません.
5 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N5 point is on the Chūō Line (The plain form) of the Tokyo subway.