Kotomora
JLPT N1ConstructionWritten
Furigana

なくして（は）Without; impossible without

なくして（は） forcefully presents something as indispensable: without it, the following achievement or state is impossible. It is a formal, rhetorical way to make a strong claim about a necessary foundation.

An indispensable condition

The first part is presented as more than merely useful: it is a foundation without which the result cannot exist, succeed, or be achieved. The construction therefore works best with weighty ideas such as trust, cooperation, sustained effort, reform, or public understanding.

信しん頼らいなくしては、長ちょう期き的てきな協きょう力りょく関かん係けいを築きずくことはできない。

Without trust, a long-term cooperative relationship cannot be built.

Analyze

This does not simply say that trust would help. It presents trust as absolutely indispensable.

The result normally denies possibility

The following clause normally contains a negative form or another expression of impossibility, such as できない, 実じつ現げんしない, or あり得えない. This negative result is central to the construction.

When the condition is an action

現げん状じょうを正せい確かくに把は握あくすることなくして、実じっ効こう性せいのある改かい革かくは実じつ現げんしない。

Without accurately understanding the current situation, effective reform cannot be achieved.

Analyze

Because the indispensable condition is the action of understanding the situation, the verb is followed by こと.

A less rhetorical alternative

なしには or なしでは can also say that something cannot happen without a necessary condition, but they are broader and less rhetorical. Use なくして（は） when you want to present indispensability as a forceful principle or conclusion.

More examples

持じ続ぞく的てきな投とう資しなくして、地ち域いき医い療りょうの再さい建けんは望のぞめない。

Without sustained investment, the rebuilding of regional healthcare cannot be expected.

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市し民みんの理り解かいと協きょう力りょくなくしては、この計けい画かくを前まえに進すすめることはできない。

Without the public's understanding and cooperation, this plan cannot move forward.

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過か去この失しっ敗ぱいから学まなぶことなくして、同おなじ過あやまちを防ふせぐことはできない。

Without learning from past failures, we cannot prevent the same mistakes.

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当とう事じ者しゃの声こえに耳みみを傾かたむけることなくしては、公こう正せいな制せい度どは生うまれない。

Without listening to those directly affected, a fair system cannot emerge.

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基き礎そ研けん究きゅうなくして、画かっ期き的てきな技ぎ術じゅつ革かく新しんはあり得えない。

Without basic research, groundbreaking technological innovation is impossible.

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相そう互ごの信しん頼らいなくしては、真しんの対たい話わは成せい立りつしない。

Without mutual trust, genuine dialogue cannot take place.

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