please do not do

The nai form plus de kudasai politely asks someone not to do something. It is the negative counterpart of te kudasai. It is a request rather than a strict prohibition.

Examples

• ここに車くるまを止とめないでください。

  Koko ni kuruma o tomenaide kudasai.

  Please do not park your car here.

• 窓まどを開あけないでください。

  Mado o akenaide kudasai.

  Please do not open the window.

Vocabulary in these examples

• ここ here
• 車 car
• 止める to stop (something), to park
• くださる to give (honorific)
• 窓 window
• 開ける to open

Related patterns · Permission, obligation, ability

• 〜てもいいです may do, it is okay to do (permission)
• 〜てはいけません must not do (prohibition)
• 〜なければなりません must do, have to do
• 〜なくてもいいです do not have to do
• 〜ことができます can do, be able to do