Verb[ないで]

Use ないで to make a casual request asking someone not to do something, especially when you want to avoid assuming you’re asking for a favor or when speaking among friends or family. It’s commonly used with verbs in the negative ない form to emphasize stopping an action or avoiding a behavior. It can soften the request compared to more direct imperatives, and it can target actions directed at the speaker or others. Note that the subject is often clear from context and the tone is casual; with strangers or in polite situations, use ないでください.