ずに済む | Grammar

Structure

[verb ない-form 〜ない → 〜] + ずに済むする → せずに済む

Description

ずに済む means "get by without doing": something you expected to have to do – a cost, a chore, something unpleasant – turned out to be unnecessary. Take the ない-form and replace ない with ずに済む: 払わない gives はらわ払わずにすむ済む. すむ済む conjugates like any う-verb, and you meet it most as すんだ済んだ or すみました済みました, reporting something you were spared.

、。

I had an umbrella, so I didn't get wet.

、。

I got by without a taxi, so I saved money.

、。

I had insurance, so I didn't have to pay for expensive repairs.

becomes せずに済む, and becomes , read こずに済む.

、。

Thanks to the medicine, I didn't need surgery.

× しずに済む → せずに済む

In the non-past, ずに済む says what you could be spared, often with かもしれない or in a question.

。

I might not have to work overtime this time.

。

Isn't there some way to avoid having to move?

ずに済む, ないで済む and なくて済む

and mean the same. ずに済む is the most formal of the three and the usual one in writing; in conversation ないで済む and なくて済む are more common.

、。

If I can get away without apologizing, I'd like to.

。

I didn't have to walk.

Examples

、。

My friend gave me a ride, so I got by without having to take the train.

、。

Thanks to the medicine, I managed without having to have surgery.

、。

Since I left early, I managed to avoid being late.

、。

Because I had insurance, I got by without paying expensive repair costs.

、。

My senior explained on my behalf, so I didn't have to speak myself.

。

I'm glad we got through this time without suffering major damage.

、。

With this method, you can get by without having to go shopping.

、。

He apologized, so we managed to avoid a fight.

、。

Since you can do the procedure online, you don't have to line up at the counter.

、。

The rain stopped, so I got by without buying an umbrella.

、。

My boss forgave me, so I didn't have to write an incident report.

。

Isn't there some way to manage without having to move?

References

ずに済むBunpro