JLPT N1 grammar
〜なくして(は)〜ない — Meaning & Examples
"Without X, Y is impossible." Formal/written necessity: 努力なくして成功はあり得ない. Casual equivalent: 〜がなければ.
〜なくして(は)〜ない — "Without X, Y Is Impossible"
なくして(は) is a formal, written way of saying "without X" — almost always paired with a negative in the second clause, for real emphasis.
Pattern: [noun] + なくして(は) + 〜ない
努力なくして成功はあり得ない。
= Without effort, success is impossible.
彼の協力なくしては、このプロジェクトは完成しなかっただろう。
= Without his cooperation, this project would never have been completed.
愛なくして、結婚生活は続かない。
= Without love, married life cannot last.
Register: Firmly written/formal — speeches, essays, opinion pieces. Casual equivalent would simply be 〜がなければ.
Key feeling: A declaration of necessity — X isn't optional, it's the foundation everything else depends on.
Practise 〜なくして(は)〜ない in the free app
This point is part of the “Reluctant Concession — ないまでも・なくして(は)・ものを・とばかりに” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N1 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
Free on iPhone and Android · No ads
Related N1 grammar points
From the same lesson: Reluctant Concession — ないまでも・なくして(は)・ものを・とばかりに
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜なくして(は)〜ない mean?
"Without X, Y is impossible." Formal/written necessity: 努力なくして成功はあり得ない. Casual equivalent: 〜がなければ.
Is 〜なくして(は)〜ない on the JLPT N1 test?
〜なくして(は)〜ない is taught in the JLPT N1 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Reluctant Concession — ないまでも・なくして(は)・ものを・とばかりに”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜なくして(は)〜ない?
Open the “Reluctant Concession — ないまでも・なくして(は)・ものを・とばかりに” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N1 mock exams, with no ads.