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    Dictionary
    1. Dictionary
    2. Grammar
    3. 〜ずは

    〜ずは

    〜ずは

    This means "if not" or "unless." It talks about what happens if something does not happen.

    KMT10FormalStandardClassical InflectionMixedOlder SpeakersClassicalClassical Conditional FormsGrammar

    Verb [ない-form] + ずはPrimary

    This means "if not" or "unless." It talks about what happens if something does not happen.

    覚かく悟ごせずは、この難なん局きょくに挑いどむべきではない。

    If one is not prepared, one should not attempt to face this difficult situation.

    FormalNon PastNegativeMid SentenceNecessityPolitics & LawCore Concepts
    彼かれが来こずは、この計けい画かくは始はじまらない。

    If he does not come, this plan will not begin.

    FormalNon PastNegativeMid SentenceHypotheticalWork & CareerBusiness & Finance
    不ふ断だんの努ど力りょくせずは、今こん日にちの成せい功こうはあり得えなかっただろう。

    Without constant effort, today's success would likely have been impossible.

    FormalPastAffirmativeMid SentenceConjecturalCore ConceptsEmotions & Psychology
    知しらずは罪つみだが、知しって行おこなわぬは更さらに大おおきな罪つみだ。

    Not knowing is a sin, but knowing and not acting is an even greater sin.

    NeutralNon PastAffirmativeClause InitialDeclarativeReligion & PhilosophyCore Concepts
    君きみが助たすけずは、我われ々われは到とう底ていこの危き機きを乗のり越こえられまい。

    Unless you help, we will surely be unable to overcome this crisis.

    FormalNon PastNegativeMid SentenceHypotheticalMilitaryLiterature

    This is like saying 'if not' or 'unless'. It is a very old way to say it. Today, we usually say '~なければ' instead. This form is also like '~ずば'. They mean almost the same thing. The 'は' in '~ずは' can make the 'if not' part feel a bit stronger. Do not confuse it with '~ば' after a verb's 'izenkei' form. That means 'when X happens, Y always happens'.

    Watch out: The verbs 'する' (to do) and '来る' (くる - to come) are special. Most verbs change 'ない' to 'ずは'. But 'する' becomes 'せずは'. It does not become 'しずは'. '来る' becomes '来ずは' (こずは).

    Don't use this when you are talking to friends. For example, you would not say "友達と会わずは寂しい" (If I don't meet my friends, I'm lonely). This grammar is very old. People do not use it in daily talk. You will see it in old books. You might hear it in old plays. It is for very formal speeches.

    Contrasts with(1)

    〜ば (未然形)

    This is a way to say "if" in Japanese. You use it for things that might not happen. It is like saying "if this were true".

    ない形

    This is how you make a verb negative. It means "do not" or "will not." It is the casual way to say 〜ません.

    〜ず

    This means 'without doing something'. It also means 'instead of doing something'. You use it to join two parts of a sentence.

    〜ば (未然形)

    This is a way to say "if" in Japanese. You use it for things that might not happen. It is like saying "if this were true".

    〜は (topic)

    は (wa) tells you what the sentence is about. It points to the main subject or idea.

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    Related concepts for this entry

    contrasts_with

    • 〜ば (未然形)

    prerequisite

    • ない形
    • 〜ず
    • 〜は (topic)

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