unless ~, without ~

Advanced

20-30 min

occasional

Expert Reviewed

Explanation

Expresses that without doing something, the desired result cannot occur.

[Verb ない-form] + ことには

実際に食べてみないことには、おいしいかどうかわからない。

Jissai ni tabete minai koto ni wa, oishii ka dou ka wakaranai.

Unless you actually try eating it, you won't know if it's delicious.

会ってみないことには、判断できない。

Atte minai koto ni wa, handan dekinai.

Without meeting them, I can't make a judgment.

The result clause is usually negative or uncertain.

～ならいざ知らず

~ might be one thing, but; leaving ~ aside

～てやまない

earnestly wish/hope, never stop ~ing

～をものともせずに

not being daunted by ~, in spite of ~

～んがため(に)

in order to ~, for the purpose of ~ (formal/literary)

JLPTBooks Editorial Team

Japanese Language Education Specialists

Last updated: Jan 10

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