ずに済む
Meanings
- Get by without doing something
- Avoid doing something and still be okay
- Manage without (doing)
About this pattern
Explanation
ずに済む is used when you want to express that you were able to avoid doing something and still manage or cope. It emphasizes that the action was unnecessary, and the situation was resolved without that action. In many contexts, it suggests a relief or convenience because you didn’t have to perform the activity, often due to a solution, circumstance, or someone else helping. With verbs, the verb usually takes its negative form before ずに済む, or the alternative form ないで済む is used in more colloquial speech. Note that といった類の表現 with nouns often use で済む instead of ずに済む. Examples below show typical uses and nuance.
Learn in context
Example sentences
I managed to get by without doing the homework.
Money was tight, so I could get by without buying new shoes.
Today I was able to get by without preparing for the meeting.
Keep studying
More N2 patterns
to be able to; can; possible to do
View detailsUnable to; Cannot; Cannot possibly
View detailsCan't help doing; Have no choice but to...
View detailsto not ~; un~; archaic negative form of ず used in literary Japanese
View detailsWith the intention of doing; Instead of...; Act as if or pretend; Believing that...; Thinking that...
View detailsanyhow; at any rate; in any case; I have no doubt that; probably
View details