ないでください means please don’t do. It is a JLPT N5 Japanese grammar pattern used to politely ask someone not to do an action.
This grammar point appears often in beginner conversations, classroom Japanese, and JLPT-style questions. If you want to make negative requests in Japanese, ないでください is a useful pattern to learn because it helps you build natural basic sentences.
What does ないでください mean?
Use ないでください when you want to tell someone not to do something politely.
Natural translations include:
- please do not
- please don’t
- do not
The exact English translation changes with context. Focus on the role of the grammar point in the sentence first, then choose the English phrase that sounds natural.
How to form ないでください
Verb negative stem + ないでください
Examples of the pattern:
- 行かないでください
- 食べないでください
- 忘れないでください
Pay attention to the word form before and after the pattern. Many beginner mistakes happen because the meaning is understood, but the grammar is attached to the wrong form.
When is ないでください used?
Use ないでください in situations like:
- polite warnings
- requests not to do something
- classroom or public instructions
Tone and register:
- polite but can still sound direct
- Common in daily speech, textbook examples, and beginner JLPT questions
ないでください example sentences
- ここで写真を撮らないでください。 — Please do not take pictures here.
- 忘れないでください。 — Please do not forget.
- この部屋に入らないでください。 — Please do not enter this room.
- 大きな声で話さないでください。 — Please do not speak loudly.
- まだ食べないでください。 — Please do not eat yet.
Read the Japanese sentence first, then check the English translation. Try to notice what the grammar point contributes: question, contrast, reason, time limit, suggestion, negation, or obligation.
Nuance of ないでください
The key nuance is a polite negative request, not just a description.
This matters because beginner Japanese often uses small words and endings to show meaning that English expresses with word order or helper verbs. For ないでください, the sentence can change a lot depending on placement and context.
For example:
- In conversation, it sounds clear and directive.
- Compared with ちゃいけない・じゃいけない, it feels request-like rather than rule-like.
ないでください vs ちゃいけない・じゃいけない
Both ないでください and ちゃいけない・じゃいけない can express related ideas, but they are different.
ないでください:
- asks the listener not to do something
- uses ください to make a polite request
ちゃいけない・じゃいけない:
- states that something is not allowed
- can sound like a rule or prohibition
Quick contrast examples:
- 写真を撮らないでください。— Please do not take pictures.
- 写真を撮っちゃいけない。— You must not take pictures.
If you are unsure which one to use, ask what the sentence is trying to do: ask a question, connect ideas, show a reason, mark time, make an invitation, or express obligation.
Common mistakes with ないでください
Watch out for these mistakes:
- Using dictionary form before ないでください
- Thinking it is always soft; it can still be a direct command
- Confusing it with ないで used for “without doing”
A good study habit is to write one short sentence and then change only the grammar point. This makes the difference between similar patterns easier to feel.
Is ないでください on the JLPT?
Yes. ないでください is commonly taught as JLPT N5 grammar.
That means learners should be able to:
- recognize it in reading
- understand its nuance in context
- use it in simple original sentences
For test preparation, do not only memorize the English gloss. Practice identifying the words around the grammar point, because JLPT questions often test structure and context together.
Practice questions for ないでください
Try making your own sentences with these prompts:
- Ask someone not to enter.
- Ask someone not to forget.
- Ask someone not to speak loudly.
Keep the sentences short at first. Once the form feels natural, add time words, places, reasons, or contrast to make the sentence more realistic.
Learn ないでください with Kanjiru
If you want to review ないでください together with kanji, vocabulary, and other JLPT N5 patterns, Kanjiru helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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