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N1

なくして(は)

Without, If not for

私わたしは彼女かのじょなくしては生いきていけないと思おもいます。

I don't think that I can live without her.

Explanation

「なくして(は)」 means 'without ...', saying that the first thing is a must for the second to happen. It follows a noun.

The ending must be negative or mean 'impossible', such as 「〜はあり得ない」, 「〜は語れない」, 「〜は成り立たない」 or 「〜できない」.

「努力なくしては成功はない」 (There is no success without effort).

It is very formal, found in editorials, speeches and famous sayings.

Mixed up with

「なくしては」: the most solemn; often used with big abstract ideas such as love, freedom and trust.

「なしには」: general formal writing, works with abstract and concrete things.

「を抜きにしては」: focuses on 'leaving out an important person or element', often a concrete team or someone's contribution.

Examples

  1. 努力どりょくなくしては、日本語にほんごは上達じょうたつしません。

    Without hard work, your Japanese won't improve.

  2. 相手あいての気持きもちを考かんがえることなくしては、友情ゆうじょうは続つづかない。

    Friendship cannot last without considering the feelings of the other person.

  3. 名言めいげん:「努力どりょくなくして成功せいこうなし。」

    Wise saying: 'There is no success without hard work.'

Tested 3 times in past papers

N1 · Dec 2025, Q27N1 · Jul 2017, Q37N1 · Dec 2014, Q37