InitialJ
N1obligationnecessity

ずにはすまない (zuni wa sumanai) - Cannot Avoid Doing

Verb-ない form + ずにはすまない

Quick answer

Verb-ない form + ずにはすまない means "Cannot avoid doing ~". This N1 pattern appears often in everyday conversation. Examples and practice exercises are listed below.

Meaning

Cannot avoid doing ~

Explanation

This construction indicates that one cannot avoid doing something because it is a moral obligation, social expectation, or necessary action. The phrase conveys a sense of duty or inevitability.

Examples

この問題は解決せずにはすまない。
このもんだいはかいけつせずにはすまない。
We cannot avoid solving this issue.
問—Counter for questions題—Topic
彼に謝らずにはすまないだろう。
かれにあやまらずにはすまないだろう。
I probably cannot avoid apologizing to him.
彼—He
忘年会に参加せずにはすまない。
ぼうねんかいにさんかせずにはすまない。
I cannot avoid attending the year-end party.
年—Year会—Meeting参—Nonplussed

Practice this grammar

Verb-ない form + ずにはすまない

Which sentence correctly uses "ずにはすまない (zuni wa sumanai) - Cannot Avoid Doing"?

Vocabulary from these examples

彼He会Meeting参Nonplussed問Counter for questions年Year題Topic

Last updated Jul 4, 2026