Speakable Japanese

How to Say "Please Don't" in Japanese: Polite Prohibitions (...-naide kudasai)

Hello! In the previous lesson, you learned to ask someone to do something using 「〜てください」 (te kudasai). This time, we will master the opposite action—how to politely ask someone not to do something.

The ability to say "Please don't take pictures" or "Please don't worry," to express a prohibition or concern for your conversation partner, is a very important communication skill.

🎯 Lesson Goal

Learn to politely ask your conversation partner not to perform an action using the verb's 'nai-form' and the chunk 「〜ないでください」 (~naide kudasai)!

Step 1 Discover

Let's look at how this is used in real situations. Notice how the speakers kindly but firmly set boundaries or offer reassurance.

👩🏻
Mei (At a museum)

すみません、ここで写真を撮らないでください。

(Sumimasen, koko de shashin o toranaide kudasai.)

🧑🏻
Yuto (To a friend)

大丈夫ですよ。そんなに心配しないでください。

(Daijoubu desu yo. Sonna ni shinpai shinaide kudasai.)

💡

Did you notice?

Both phrases end with "naide kudasai". The first part of the word is the "nai-form" of the verb (toranai = don't take, shinpai shinai = don't worry).

Step 2 The Pattern

To make a polite prohibition, you need thenai-formof the verb.

Basic Chunk

でください。

( de kudasai.)

🔑 Key Point: Making the 'nai-form'

🌟 Pro Tip: Remove the 'i'

Once you have the nai-form (e.g., kawanai), remove the final 'い' (i) and attach 'でください' (de kudasai) to complete the phrase: 買わないでください (kawanaide kudasai).

Step 3 Pattern Practice

Apply the rule! Look at how we take the nai-form and change it into a polite request. Read these out loud!

  • To Look 見ない (minai)

    見ないでください。

    (Minaide kudasai.)

  • To Eat 食べない (tabenai)

    食べないでください。

    (Tabenaide kudasai.)

  • To Enter 入らない (hairanai)

    入らないでください。

    (Hairanaide kudasai.)

Step 4 Make It Yours!

Imagine situations where you need to establish rules or ask someone to stop. Pick words from the Cheat Sheet below to build your phrases!

👉 ここで YOUR WORD ないでください。

Vocabulary Cheat Sheet

Verbs (nai-form + de)

  • さわらないで sawaranaide (don't touch)
  • いかないで ikanaide (don't go)
  • すわないで suwanaide (don't smoke)
  • わすれないで wasurenaide (don't forget)

Helpful Words

  • タバコ tabako (cigarettes)
  • ここ koko (here)
  • それ sore (that)
  • 私 watashi (me/I)

Bonus Go Beyond the Basics

When speaking with close friends or family, "naide kudasai" can sound a bit too stiff. Here is how to make negative requests casually!

🙅‍♂️ 1. Just drop the "Kudasai"

Formal (Polite)

心配しないでください。

(Shinpai shinaide kudasai.)

Casual (Friends)

心配しないで。

(Shinpai shinaide.)

🤝 2. Friendly & Soft

Adding "ne" (Softening)

忘れないでね。

(Wasurenaide ne.) - "Don't forget, okay?"

Adding "yo" (Emphasizing)

見ないでよ。

(Minaide yo.) - "Hey, don't look!"

Summary Lesson Review

Negative Requests: Use 〜ないでください (naide kudasai) to politely ask someone NOT to perform an action.

Making the Form: Take the verb's nai-form, remove the final 'い', and attach 'でください' (de kudasai).

Softening the Tone: With friends, drop "kudasai" and add ね (ne) or よ (yo) to sound friendly (e.g., Wasurenaide ne).

Practice Drill

1 / X Polite

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