〜なくして(は) (~nakushite (wa)) — without ~ (X is impossible)
Without ~ it simply cannot happen — a stiff, formal 'without' that stresses ~ is essential.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- At the company's year-end party the chairman says in his speech: 'Without your support, this success would not have been possible.'
- It is used in speeches, thank-you letters and essays.
Meaning
- 「〜なくして(は)」= 'without ~ it cannot happen at all'.
- It carries the speaker's feeling that ~ is truly essential and precious.
- The ending is always a negative 'impossible': 〜はない・〜はありえない・〜できない.
How to attach
- Straight after a noun: 努力なくして・協力なくしては — adding 「は」makes it stronger
- The noun is usually something good and valuable: 努力・協力・理解・支え・信頼
Versus what you know
N2It means the same as 「〜を抜きにしては…ない」(田中さんを抜きにしては語れない), but 「なくして」is stiffer, written language.
Watch out
- It is not used with a positive result like 'he passed without effort'.
- You won't hear it in casual chat either.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
皆様のご協力なくして、今回の成功はありませんでした。
みなさまのごきょうりょくなくして、こんかいのせいこうはありませんでした。
Without everyone's cooperation, this success would not have happened.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) ご協力 = cooperation (something valuable) → attach 「なくして」 directly = without cooperation → then a negative ending: 成功はありませんでした = there would have been no success.
家族の支えなくしては、日本での十年間はありえなかった。
かぞくのささえなくしては、にほんでのじゅうねんかんはありえなかった。
Without my family's support, my ten years in Japan would never have been possible.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 支え = support → 「なくして」+「は」 = without support (stronger emphasis) → then 'it wasn't possible': ありえなかった.
お互いの信頼なくして、チームで良い仕事はできない。
おたがいのしんらいなくして、チームでよいしごとはできない。
Without mutual trust, a team cannot do good work.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 信頼 = trust → 「なくして」 = without trust → then 'can't': 良い仕事はできない.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「地域の皆様の理解___、この計画は進められません。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: Does anything go between the noun and なくして?
N + なくして(は), with no particle in between. 理解なくしては = without understanding.
In which sentence is 「なくして」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Does the sentence end in 'impossible'?
なくして needs a negative 'impossible' ending. 'He passed' is a positive result, so it does not fit.
A message to a friend: 'Don't take a day off without letting anyone know' — which is natural?
💡 Hint: Stiff speech language, or an everyday 'without'?
なくして is the stiff form of speeches and essays and needs an 'impossible' ending. For an everyday 'without telling anyone', 「連絡なしに」is natural.
Your score: /3