JLPT N1 Grammar – Difference between “〜なくして” and “〜なしに”
Table of Contents
1. Difference between “〜なくして” and ”〜なしに”
2. AなくしてB
3. AなしにB
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment
Q: Can you explain the difference between the usage of “〜なくして” and “〜なしに”?
A: Both expressions mean “if something does not exist,” but there are some differences between them.
Aなくして(は)B (JLPT N1)
[Meaning]
Without A, B will not happen
Without A, B will not be realized
[Rule]
[N] Noun＋なくして（は）
[Examples]
努力なくして成功できないだろう。
Without effort, there can be no success.
親のあたたかい愛なくして子供は育たない。
Without the warm love of parents, children cannot grow up.
彼なくしては、今回の試合には勝てなかったでしょう。
Without him, we wouldn’t have won this match.
メンバーの協力なくしては、成功できませんでした。
Without the cooperation of the members, we couldn’t have succeeded.
AなしにB (JLPT N1)
[Meaning]
Without A, B cannot happen
Without A, B cannot be done or it will cause problems
[Rule]
[N] Noun＋なしに～ない
[Examples]
パスポートなしに海外へ行けないよ。
You can’t travel abroad without a passport.
この建物は許可なしに入ることができません。
You cannot enter this building without permission.
社長なしにこの集まりは始められないですよ。
This meeting can’t begin without the president.
休憩なしに３時間練習し続けました。
I practiced for three hours straight without a break.
Let’s Compare
[Aなくして（は）B]
A is presented as a prerequisite for obtaining result B.
The expression implies that “without A, it is difficult to achieve result B,” emphasizing the critical importance of A as a necessary condition.
[Example]
努力なくして成功できないだろう。
Without effort, there can be no success.
⇒ This sentence shows that effort is a strong condition for success, and without it, success is unattainable.
[AなしにB]
In contrast, “なしに” is more commonly used in daily conversation and gives a softer impression. It signifies that without A, B cannot be achieved, but the emphasis is not as strong as “なくして.”
[Examples]
パスポートなしに海外へは行けないよ。
You can’t travel abroad without a passport.
⇒ This indicates that traveling abroad is impossible without a passport.
大好きなワインなしにステーキは食べられません。
I can’t eat steak without my favorite wine.
⇒ It means that without my favorite wine, I can’t eat steak.
Summary
[〜なくして（は）]
- Used when you want to strongly assert that “without something, its realization would be difficult,”
[〜なしに]
- It is used when you want to say, “without something, it is impossible to do ~.”
- Compared to “~なくして”, “~なしに” is more often used in daily conversation and gives a softer impression.
Quiz
Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. Either is fine
現代においてテクノロジーなくして人は生きられません。
In today’s world, people cannot live without technology.
*Using “なくして” emphasizes “technology” as a specific condition, while using “なしに” conveys the impossibility of achieving it in a more general sense.
A. なしに
なんの説明もなしにやれと言われても困ります。
I can’t do it if I’m told to do it without any explanation.
*”なしに” (nashini) is correct here. “Nashini” gently expresses the absence of something and refers to a common, everyday situation where “without an explanation, one cannot proceed.”
A. なしに
「社長、始まりのあいさつをお願いします。社長のあいさつなしに始められませんから！」
President, please give the opening speech. We can’t start without your speech!”
*”なしに” (nashini) is suitable here because it’s used in spoken language.
A. Either is fine
本人の同意なくしては、個人情報を教えることはできません。
Without the individual’s consent, personal information cannot be disclosed.
*Using “なくして” emphasizes “personal consent” as a specific condition, while using “なしに” conveys the impossibility of achieving it in a more general sense.
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