〜ずに済む / 〜ないで済む zu ni sumu / naide sumu

〜ずに済む / 〜ないで済む（zu ni sumu / naide sumu）means “get by without doing; manage without having to do”. Expresses that, thanks to some circumstance, you avoid having to do something unpleasant or troublesome; you 'get away without' doing it. Formation: V-ない（の「ない」を取って）＋ずに済む／V-ない＋で済む（する→せずに済む）

get by without doing; manage without having to do

N2

Formation

V-ない（の「ない」を取って）＋ずに済む／V-ない＋で済む（する→せずに済む）

Explanation

Expresses that, thanks to some circumstance, you avoid having to do something unpleasant or troublesome; you 'get away without' doing it. 「ずに」is the more formal/written equivalent of 「ないで」. Note the irregular 「する → せずに済む」.

Examples

となりの人がお金を貸してくれたので、借りずに済んだ。
となりのひとがおかねをかしてくれたので、かりずにすんだ。
The neighbor lent me money, so I got by without having to borrow (from elsewhere).
薬が効いて、病院に行かないで済んだ。
くすりがきいて、びょういんにいかないですんだ。
The medicine worked, so I managed without going to the hospital.

Note

「済む」basically means 'to end / be settled', so the whole pattern is literally 'it ends up without doing'. 「せずに済む」(from する) is a very common form.

FAQ

〜ずに済む / 〜ないで済む — what does it mean and how is it used?

get by without doing; manage without having to do. Expresses that, thanks to some circumstance, you avoid having to do something unpleasant or troublesome; you 'get away without' doing it. 「ずに」is the more formal/written equivalent of 「ないで」. Note the irregular 「する → せずに済む」.

〜ずに済む / 〜ないで済む — how do you form it?

V-ない（の「ない」を取って）＋ずに済む／V-ない＋で済む（する→せずに済む）

〜ずに済む / 〜ないで済む — any usage notes?

「済む」basically means 'to end / be settled', so the whole pattern is literally 'it ends up without doing'. 「せずに済む」(from する) is a very common form.

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