JLPT N5 Grammar: 〜ないでください — Polite Negative Request

JLPT N5 Grammar: 〜ないでください

Polite negative request — “Please don't do ~”

JLPTジェイエルピーティー N5エヌゴ 文法ぶんぽう 〜ないでください 解説かいせつ (依頼いらいの否定ひてい)

⏱️ Study time: 5–7 minutes

〜ないでください (naide kudasai) is the polite way to ask someone not to do something. It attaches to the negative stem of a verb (the ない form, minus ない) and adds でください. It's softer than てはいけません and is used for everyday personal requests.

🚀 JLPT N5 Warm-up Quiz

Q: How do you say “Please don't smoke here” politely?

Answer: A (吸わないでください). This is a polite, personal request. B is a strong prohibition (must not), C is a statement "I don't smoke here".

Quick Summary

Grammar Point
〜ないでください
Meaning
Please don't do ~
Pattern
Verb (ない form minus い) + でください
Example
ここでタバコを吸すわないでください。ここでたばこをすわないでください。Koko de tabako o suwanaide kudasai.
Please don't smoke here.

📝 Core Pattern

Formation: Verb (ない form) + でください
Example: 食たべる → 食たべない → 食たべないでください
Casual: 〜ないで (please don't, informal)
⚠️ Never use the ます form + ないでください. It must be the plain negative form (ない form).
🧠 Need the ない form? See ない Form (Plain Negative) →

💡 Toggle furigana, hiragana, or romaji for easier reading.

What is 〜ないでください?

〜ないでください is the polite negative request form. It tells someone "please don't do ~" in a respectful but personal way. It's softer than the prohibition form てはいけません and is used for everyday requests between people.

  • Formation: take the ない form of the verb, remove the final い, and add でください.
  • Used for personal requests, not for rules or laws.
  • Casual version: just ないで (e.g., 食たべないで = don't eat).

⚡ How to Form 〜ないでください

Verbない formNegative RequestMeaning
書かく (kaku)書かかない書かかないでくださいPlease don't write
食たべる (taberu)食たべない食たべないでくださいPlease don't eat
する (suru)しないしないでくださいPlease don't do
来くる (kuru)来こない (konai)来こないでくださいPlease don't come
⚠️ JLPT Trap: Never use the ます form to make this pattern. 食たべませんでください ✕ → 食たべないでください ✓. The ない form is the plain negative, not the polite negative.

Examples & Mini Dialogue

ここで写真しゃしんを撮とらないでください。ここでしゃしんをとらないでください。Koko de shashin o toranaide kudasai.
Please don't take photos here.

✅ Polite personal request.

遅おくれないでください。おくれないでください。Okurenaide kudasai.
Please don't be late.
🗣️ Mini Dialogue
A: すみません、ここでタバコを吸すってもいいですか。すみません、ここでたばこをすってもいいですか。Sumimasen, koko de tabako o sutte mo ii desu ka.
B: すみませんが、吸すわないでください。すみませんが、すわないでください。Sumimasen ga, suwanaide kudasai.

⚡ ないでください vs てはいけません

PatternStrengthUsageExample
〜ないでくださいSoft request (please don't)Personal requests, polite reminders吸すわないでください。
Please don't smoke.
〜てはいけませんStrong prohibition (must not)Rules, laws, public signs吸すってはいけません。
You must not smoke.

Common Mistakes (and Fixes)

✕ 食たべませんでください (using polite negative ません).
✓ 食たべないでください (use the plain ない form).
✕ 帰かえらないでください — correct in form, but using ないで for a strong rule.
✓ For strong rules, use てはいけません: 帰かえってはいけません.
✕ 吸すうないでください (using dictionary form).
✓ 吸すわないでください (use the ない form, not the dictionary form).

JLPT N5 Practice Questions

Score: 0 / 3

1. “Please don't eat here.” Choose the correct form.

2. What is the ないでください form of する?

3. ないでください is __________ than てはいけません.

🎯 JLPT N5 tip: ないでください is tested alongside てはいけません. The key difference: ないでください is a soft personal request, てはいけません is a strong rule/law. Listen for the context in the audio section to determine which one is appropriate.

Test yourself with a free mock exam →

About the Instructor

Taught by Anup Sensei at Gogaku Language & Training Center in Pokhara. With real Japan experience and a focus on exam essentials, he helps students pass the JLPT with confidence.

⚡ Vocabulary Used in This Lesson

JapaneseReadingTypeEnglish Meaning
吸すうすうGodan verbto smoke
食たべるたべるIchidan verbto eat
図書館としょかんとしょかんNounlibrary
写真しゃしんしゃしんNounphoto
撮とるとるGodan verbto take (a photo)
遅おくれるおくれるIchidan verbto be late

Related Grammar

てはいけません

Strong prohibition.

Learn more →

ない form

Plain negative verb form.

Learn more →

てください

Polite affirmative request.

Learn more →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use ません instead of ない for this pattern?

No. 〜ないでください uses the plain negative (ない form), not the polite negative (ません). 食べませんでください ✕ → 食べないでください ✓.

What's the casual version?

In casual speech, just say 〜ないで: 食べないで = Don't eat (casual request).

Is ないでください polite enough for business?

It's polite but can sound a bit direct in very formal settings. In business, you might soften it with 〜ないでいただけませんか (would you mind not doing ~?), but that's beyond N5.

Continue Learning

Next: てください — polite affirmative requests.

Learn てください →

→ Explore the JLPT N5 Grammar Hub

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