How to Say ‘Don’t fight.’ in Japanese
けんかしないで。
kenka shi nai de
[ken-kah shee nai deh]
💬 Usage Tip: [けんかしないで。] literally means “don’t do fighting.” A common phrase for stopping arguments.
🇯🇵 In Japan: You might hear this from parents, teachers, or even friends trying to calm people down.
Phrase Breakdown
けんか
kenka
[ken-kah]
fight; quarrel
けんか means a fight or quarrel. In this sentence, it is something the speaker tells someone not to do.
けんかしないで。
Don't fight.
しないで
shi nai de
don't do; please don't
The negative te-form of する, used to request that someone not do something.
泣かないで。
Please don’t cry.
Words in this phrase
し
shi
[shee]
do
The stem of する, “to do.” Combined with けんか, it makes けんかする, “to fight.”
兄弟はけんかしないで。
Brothers, don't fight.
ない
nai
[nai]
not
Negative element meaning “not.” In しないで, it helps form the request “don’t do.”
友だちとけんかしないで。
Don't fight with your friend.
で
de
[deh]
please don't
As part of ないで, it creates a soft command meaning “please don’t ...”
学校でけんかしないで。
Don't fight at school.
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