～ないで下さい
Please don't (Polite request)
Structure
Explanation
To make a polite request for someone to refrain from doing an action, you can use the expression ないでください. This pattern is formed by taking a verb's plain negative form, adding the particle で, and finishing with ください, which is the conjunctive form of the verb くださる.
- この約束は絶対に忘れないでください。Please be sure not to forget this promise.
- 授業中は部屋に入らないでください。Please don't enter the room during class.
ください is a form of honorific language, a respectful style of speech for referring to someone else's actions. It is the request form of the verb くださる and is used almost exclusively for this purpose. The verb くださる is the honorific language equivalent of くれる.
When speaking with friends or in other informal settings, it is common to drop ください. Using just the verb's negative form followed by で creates a casual command telling someone not to do something.
- それは私のケーキだから、触らないで。That's my cake, so don't touch it.
- まだ早いから、帰らないでよ。It's still early, so don't go home yet.
Caution
Even though ください is the polite equivalent of くれる, for this grammar pattern it is the standard form. Using ないでくれ (from the plain verb くれる) sounds overly assertive or masculine and is not appropriate in most situations.
Examples
心配しないでください。
Please don't worry.
それに触らないでください。
Please don't touch that.
教室の中で走らないでください。
Please don't run inside the classroom.
お酒を飲みすぎないでください。
Please don't drink too much alcohol.
怒らないでください。
Please don't get angry.
図書館では話さないでください。
Please don't talk in the library.
危ないですから、無理しないでください。
It's dangerous, so please don't push yourself too hard.
そのボタンは押さないでください。
Please don't push that button.
このことはだれにも言わないでください。
Please don't tell anyone about this.
そこに鞄を置かないでください。
Please don't put your bag there.
今使っているので、パソコンを消さないでください。
I'm using it now, so please don't turn off the computer.
夢を諦めないでください。
Please don't give up on your dream.