日本語道場

Nihongo Dojo — N3 → N2

Grammar

N2

～ずにはおかない

~zu ni wa okanai

will inevitably; won't rest until

When to use it

Use this in written or formal spoken register (reports, editorials, speeches, press releases) to say that something will inevitably provoke a reaction or bring about a result — the speaker sees the outcome as unavoidable. With a first-person subject it flips to strong determination: "we won't let it rest until…". It is heavy, rhetorical language; in ordinary email or conversation 必ず～する / ～はずだ is more natural.

Formation

  • Verbs: ない-form minus ない + ずにはおかない → 招く→招かずにはおかない、与える→与えずにはおかない
  • する verbs: irregular → せずにはおかない (追及する→追及せずにはおかない)
  • Very often paired with the causative, since the subject is a thing acting on people: 感動させずにはおかない、反発させずにはおかない
  • Variant ～ないではおかない is identical in meaning, slightly less stiff
  • i-adjectives / na-adjectives / nouns: not used — the pattern attaches only to verbs

Examples

  • This price hike is bound to provoke pushback from our clients.

  • The president's remark will surely end up affecting the share price.

  • The audit office won't rest until it gets to the bottom of this murky deal.

  • The new model's usability is guaranteed to impress customers.

  • Changing the deadline again will inevitably throw the floor into chaos.