Grammar › No Choice & Difficulty
ないではおかない — “won't fail to, is bound to”
Says an outcome is so certain to happen that failing to occur would be unthinkable
Verb's negative-stem + ないではおかない (or the equivalent ずにはおかない) emphatically states that some effect is bound to occur — “it won't leave things without doing X,” i.e., “X is certain to happen.” It's formal and dramatic, often describing an emotional impact something has on people.
How to form it
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| Nai-stem + ないではおかない | この映画は観客を感動させないではおかない — This movie is bound to move its audience |
Example sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 彼の演技は観客を涙させないではおかなかった。 | かれのえんぎはかんきゃくをなみださせないではおかなかった。 karenoengihakankyakuwonamidasasenaidehaokanakatta。 | His performance was bound to bring the audience to tears. |
| この事件は世間を騒がせないではおかないだろう。 | このじけんはせけんをさわがせないではおかないだろう。 konojikenhasekenwosawagasenaidehaokanaidarou。 | This incident is sure to cause a stir. |
| 彼女の言葉は人を勇気づけないではおかない。 | かのじょのことばはひとをゆうきづけないではおかない。 kanojonokotobahahitowoyuukizukenaidehaokanai。 | Her words are bound to encourage people. |
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Watch out
ないではおかない is heavily formal and literary, mostly describing an inevitable emotional or social effect — it's rarely used for mundane, everyday certainties, where だろう or はずだ is the natural choice.