How to Say ‘Do not use’ in Japanese
使わないで
tsukawa nai de
[tsoo-kah-wah]
💬 Usage Tip: [使わないで] is the negative [て]-form of [使う], meaning “don’t use.” It often appears with [ください] to make a polite request not to do something.
🇯🇵 In Japan: This style is common on signs and in spoken instructions in Japan: clear, direct, but still polite.
Phrase Breakdown
使わ
tsukawa
[tsoo-kah-wah]
use (negative stem)
From 使う, to use; this part appears in the negative request pattern.
携帯を使わないでください。
Please do not use your phone.
ない
nai
で
de
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