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Formation: N + なしに; V-dictionary + ことなしに; often N + なしには / V-dictionary + ことなしには + negative or impossibility

〜なしに means that something is done without X, or that the action goes ahead with X missing. With a noun it often describes doing something without the expected step, as in 断りなしに (without asking) or 予告なしに (without warning). This frequently carries a note of disapproval. ことなしに turns a verb into the same structure and is formal and written. With は (なしには／ことなしには) followed by a negative, it means 'without X, Y is impossible', which is very close to 〜なくして（は）. That pattern, though, almost always states a condition for something important. Compare 〜ことなく, which is more common and more neutral for plain 'without doing' (休むことなく働く), and casual なしで, which is the everyday spoken equivalent.

Variants: なしには、ことなしには、なしで、なしの + N

Examples

• 彼は何の連絡もなしに会社を休んだ。
  He stayed away from work without a word of notice.
• 努力することなしに成功はあり得ない。
  Without making an effort, success is impossible.
• 許可なしに立ち入ることを禁じる。
  Entry without permission is prohibited.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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