JLPT N1 grammar

〜ずに済むmeaning and usage

Meaning

Not doing A will suffice; Can get by without doing A

How to form it

  • verb (nai-form without ない)ずに済む
  • verb (nai-form)で済む
  • する → せずに済む

How it is used

One expected to have to do A but, as it turned out, didn't need to, often with relief. Speech often says 「〜ないで済む」. The opposite, 「〜ずには済まない」, means A can't be avoided.

Examples

  1. おめえが告げ口なんかしなきゃ、先生に怒られずに済んだのに。

    If you hadn't tattled, we could have gotten by without the teacher getting angry.

  2. 早めに家を出たので、雨に降られずに済んだ。

    I left home early, so I managed not to get caught in the rain.

  3. 友達が車で送ってくれたので、終電を気にしないで済んだ。

    A friend gave me a lift, so I didn't have to worry about the last train.