JLPT N2 Grammar – Difference between “〜を抜きにして” and “〜を抜きにしては”
Table of Contents
1. Difference between “〜を抜きにして” and “〜を抜きにしては”
2. Aを抜きにしてB
3. Aを抜きにしてはＢ
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similer Articles
8. Comment
Q: Is there a difference between ”〜を抜きにして” and ”〜を抜きにしては”?
A: They are very similar grammar patterns, but there are subtle differences in nuance and usage.
Aを抜きにしてB (JLPT N2)
[Meaning]
Without A / excluding A
[Rule]
[N] Noun + を/は + 抜きにして
[Examples]
堅苦しい話は抜きにして、楽しく飲みましょう。
Let’s skip the formal talk and just enjoy drinking.
お世辞きで彼の技術は素晴らしいです。
Without flattery, his skill is excellent.
このすしはわさび抜きです。
This sushi is without wasabi.
*”抜きにして” is also often used as ”抜きで” or as the noun form ”抜き.”
”Aを抜きにして” is used with the meaning “excluding something that normally exists or is usually included.”
In the following B, an action or desire continues without including A.
[Examples]
わさびを抜きにして、作ってもらえませんか。
Could you make it without wasabi?
⇒ This is a request meaning “I’d like it made without wasabi.”
田中さんは少し遅れるそうです。田中さん抜きにして始めましょうか。
It seems Mr. Tanaka will be a little late. Shall we start without him?
休みなんだし、仕事の話は抜きにしてリラックスしよう。
Since it’s a day off, let’s leave work talk aside and just relax.
[Common Expression]
”お世辞抜きにして / お世辞抜きで”
This expresses the meaning “not as flattery, but truly ~” and is used when emphasizing an evaluation or opinion about someone.
[Examples]
お世辞を抜きにして、この味は世界に誇れるものです。
Without flattery, this taste is something we can be proud of worldwide.
お世辞抜きで、あなたには素晴らしい才能があります。
Honestly, you have wonderful talent.
Aを抜きにしてはＢ (JLPT N2)
[Meaning]
If A is not present, B cannot be realized
[Rule]
[N] Noun + を抜きにしては
[Examples]
この会議は社長を抜きにしては開始できません。
This meeting cannot begin without the president.
もう今の時代、スマホを抜きにしては生きられないよ。
In today’s world, we can’t live without smartphones.
コミュニケーションを抜きにしては、良い人間関係は築けません。
Without communication, good human relationships cannot be built.
”Aを抜きにしては” indicates something essential that the speaker highly values, and expresses that without it, B would be impossible or very difficult.
B is followed by a negative statement (such as “cannot” or “difficult”). It is a somewhat formal expression, often used in written language or formal situations.
[Examples]
先生の指導を抜きにしては、私たちの合格はありませんでした。
Without the teacher’s guidance, we would not have passed.
⇒ This emphasizes how important the teacher’s guidance was, and that without it, passing would not have been possible.
インターネットを抜きにしては、現代社会は成り立たないでしょう。
Without the Internet, modern society could not function.
両親の協力を抜きにしては留学はできませんでした。
Without my parents’ support, I could not have studied abroad.
Let’s Compare
The following sentences are both grammatically correct, but their nuances are different.
[Example]
① 社長を抜きにして、この会議は始められません。
② 社長を抜きにしては、この会議は始められません。
Sentence 1 assumes that the president normally attends the meeting, but expresses the situation: “We can’t start because he is absent now.”
Sentence 2 emphasizes that the president’s presence is absolutely essential: “Without the president, this meeting cannot take place.”
Now, which of the following is correct?
[Example]
① すみませんが、ピクルス抜きで作ってくれませんか。
② すみませんが、ピクルス抜きにしては作ってくれませんか。
The correct answer is Sentence 1.
Since this is a request meaning “I’d like it made without pickles,” the natural form is “抜きで / 抜きにして.”
“〜を抜きにしては” means “if 〜 is not present, it cannot be realized,” so it cannot be used in sentences that express requests or wishes.
Summary
[Ａを抜きにしてＢ]
- Means “excluding something / leaving out something that is normally included.”
- In B, an action or desire follows without including A.
- ”抜きにして” is also often used as ”抜きで” or the noun form ”抜き.”
- The fixed expressions ”お世辞を抜きにして / お世辞抜きで〜” mean “not as flattery, but truly ~,” and are used when giving evaluations or opinions.
[Ａを抜きにしてはＢ]
- A refers to something essential that the speaker highly values.
- B is followed by a negative expression such as “cannot / difficult to,” giving the meaning “if A is absent, B cannot be realized.”
- It is a somewhat formal expression, often used in written language or formal contexts.
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. を抜きにしては
努力を抜きにしては成功はあり得ません。
Without effort, success is impossible.
*Since it means “success cannot be achieved without effort,” the correct form is “を抜きにしては”.
A. 抜きで
マヨネーズが嫌いだから、マヨネーズ抜きで作ってみよう。
I don’t like mayonnaise, so let’s make it without mayonnaise.
*Since it means “without mayonnaise,” the correct form is “抜きで”.
A. を抜きにしては
あなたの協力を抜きにしてはこの計画は成功しなかったでしょう。
Without your cooperation, this plan would not have succeeded.
*Since it means “success would have been difficult without cooperation,” the correct form is “を抜きにしては”.
A. 抜きにして
お世辞抜きにして、彼は本当に優秀だと思います。
Without flattery, I think he is truly excellent.
*Since お世辞抜きにして is a fixed expression, the correct form is 抜きにして.
Similer Articles
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