How to Say ‘Don't hog it.’ in Japanese
ひとりじめしないで。
hitorijime shi nai de
[hee-toh-ree-jee-meh shee nah-ee deh]
💬 Usage Tip: Useful coaching line. For even gentler tone: [ひとりじめしないでね].
🇯🇵 In Japan: Often said when teaching passing and turn-taking—important social-skill moment in kids’ sports.
Phrase Breakdown
ひとりじめ
hitorijime
[hee-toh-ree-jee-meh]
keeping it all to yourself
Refers to not sharing; in soccer, it often means not passing to teammates.
ひとりじめしないで、まわりをみよう。
Don’t keep it to yourself; look around you.
しないで
shi nai de
don’t do (it); please don’t
Negative て-form of する (しないで). Used to tell someone not to do something (casual; can be a request).
走らないで。
Don’t run.
Words in this phrase
し
shi
[shee]
do (verb stem)
Part of する; combined with ないで to make “please don’t do.”
ひとりじめしないで、パス！
Don’t keep it to yourself—pass!
ない
nai
[nah-ee]
not (negative)
Makes the verb negative: しない = don’t do.
ひとりじめしないで、みんなでやろう。
Don’t keep it to yourself; let’s do it as a team.
で
de
[deh]
please don't (〜ないで)
In 〜ないで, this is the “please don’t” pattern used for gentle coaching instructions.
ひとりじめしないで、ともだちをたすけて。
Don’t keep it to yourself; help your friends.
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