By ProDev Teach | Last updated May 2025
📘 Meaning & Usage
The grammar pattern ～ことなく is used to express the idea of “without doing something”. It is often found in formal writing and emphasizes that an action was carried out or a state occurred without another action taking place.
Translation: Without doing / Without (something happening)
Form:
- Verb (dictionary form) + ことなく
Used when:
- Showing that an action occurs without a preceding expected action
- Used in literary or formal contexts
- Alternative to ～ないで or ～ずに in formal contexts
💡 Example Sentences
- 彼は一度も休むことなく、働き続けた。
He continued working without taking a single break. - 彼女は文句を言うことなく、すべてを受け入れた。
She accepted everything without complaining. - 試合は一度も中断することなく、最後まで続いた。
The match continued to the end without any interruptions. - 彼は迷うことなく、答えを出した。
He answered without hesitation. - 涙を見せることなく、彼はその場を去った。
He left without showing a single tear.
📝 Grammar Notes
- ことなく is a more formal and literary version of ～ないで or ～ずに.
- Often used in written texts, speeches, news, or novels.
- Cannot be used with all verbs naturally — works best with common and abstract actions (e.g., worry, hesitate, rest).
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blanks
- 彼は一日も＿＿＿＿、会社に通った。
- 彼女は怒る＿＿＿＿、静かに答えた。
- 失敗する＿＿＿＿、目標を達成した。
✔ Answers:
- 休むことなく
- ことなく
- ことなく
2. Translate into Japanese
- He completed the project without making any mistakes.
- They passed the test without cheating.
- I arrived without getting lost.
✔ Sample Answers:
- 彼はミスすることなくプロジェクトを完成させた。
- 彼らはカンニングすることなく試験に合格した。
- 私は迷うことなく到着した。
🔗 Related Grammar
- ～ないで: without doing (casual)
- ～ずに: formal and versatile negative form
- ～ことなしに: very close in meaning, sometimes interchangeable
🧠 Summary
- Meaning: Without doing something
- Level: JLPT N2 / N1
- Form: Verb (dictionary form) + ことなく
- Context: Formal or literary use
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I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.
