JLPT N1 grammar

〜ざるmeaning and usage

Meaning

B that doesn't/isn't A

How to form it

  • verb (nai-form without ない)ざるnoun
  • する → せざるnoun

How it is used

The attributive form of the classical negative 「ず」: 「〜ない」 before a noun, as in 「見えざる」 and 「絶えざる」. Found mostly in titles, headlines and set phrases; rare in speech. 「ざるを得ない」 is a separate fixed pattern.

Examples

  1. 時を経ても変わらざる友は得難いものだ。

    It's hard to find friends that don't change over time.

  2. この町には、まだ知られざる名所がたくさんある。

    This town still has many little-known sights.

  3. パーティーに招かれざる客が現れた。

    An uninvited guest turned up at the party.