This means you do one thing but do not do another thing. It is like saying 'without doing something else'.
Verb [ない-form] + ずにPrimary
This means you do one thing but do not do another thing. It is like saying 'without doing something else'.
彼は何も言わずに、部屋を出て行った。
He left the room without saying anything.
資料を事前に確認せずに会議に出席してしまい、申し訳ありませんでした。
I sincerely apologize for attending the meeting without having confirmed the documents beforehand.
昨日は勉強せずに一日中ゲームをしていた。
Yesterday, I played games all day instead of studying.
傘を持たずに家を出たので、雨に降られても文句は言えない。
Since I left home without taking an umbrella, I can't complain even if I get caught in the rain.
エレベーターを使わずに、健康のために階段で10階まで上がった。
I went up to the 10th floor by stairs for my health, without using the elevator.
〜ずに and 〜ないで both mean "without doing". But 〜ずに is more formal. You will see it in books or speeches. 〜ないで is for talking every day. Also, you can use 〜ないで to ask someone not to do something. You cannot do this with 〜ずに. The form 〜ず is even more old-fashioned. It is often in set phrases.
Watch out: Most verbs change from their ない-form. You drop the い from ない. Then you add ずに. For example, 食べない becomes 食べずに. But the verb する is special. Its ない-form is しない. But it becomes せずに, not しずに. You just need to remember this one.
Don't use this when two different people are doing things. For example, you can't say 'He didn't call, and I waited.'
Contrasts with(1)
More formal alternatives(1)
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