～ずに済む / ～ないで済む

How to form it

• Verb (ない-form without ない) + ずに済む
• Verb (ない-form) + ないで済む
• する → せずに済む

Register: Neutral

Explanation

Says that something unpleasant or troublesome did not have to happen, or was avoided.

Often expresses relief. The negated thing is something the speaker did not want to do or suffer.

Examples

1. 傘を持っていたので、濡れずに済んだ。

   かさをもっていたので、ぬれずにすんだ。

   I had an umbrella, so I managed not to get wet.

2. 早めに連絡したので、謝らずに済んだ。

   はやめにれんらくしたので、あやまらずにすんだ。

   I contacted them early, so I didn't have to apologise.

3. 大した怪我ではなく、入院せずに済んだ。

   たいしたけがではなく、にゅういんせずにすんだ。

   The injury wasn't serious, so I was spared from being hospitalised.

Compare with

• ～ずじまい: ずじまい means something was left undone; ずに済む means something was avoided.

Common mistakes

• Saying しずに済む. The correct form is せずに済む.