ことなく・
ことなく and ことなしに formally say that one action or state occurs without another action happening. They are especially natural when the non-occurrence is sustained, repeated, or noteworthy.
How the two actions relate
The verb before the target names the action that does not happen. The clause after it gives the action or continuing state that does occur. The main result can be fully affirmative: the construction does not itself mean that the result is impossible.
Natural formal uses
These forms often highlight uninterrupted continuation or successful completion despite an omitted action.
A crucial difference when the topic marker is added
ことなしに simply says that the following action occurs without the first action. Adding は creates a necessary-condition pattern: the first action is indispensable, so the result is normally negative or impossible.
必要な情報は、窓口へ行くことなしにオンラインで確認できる。
The necessary information can be checked online without going to the service counter.
AnalyzeThe affirmative result is possible because this is the simple “without doing” pattern.
本人確認をすることなしには、手続きを完了できない。
The procedure cannot be completed without identity verification.
AnalyzeHere, identity verification is presented as indispensable, and the result is negative.
More examples
列車は速度を落とすことなく、駅を通過した。
The train passed through the station without slowing down.
Analyze委員会は結論を急ぐことなしに、慎重な審議を重ねた。
The committee continued its careful deliberations without rushing to a conclusion.
Analyze実験は大きな問題が起こることなく、予定どおり終了した。
The experiment ended as scheduled without any major problems occurring.
Analyze彼女は一度も迷うことなしに、契約書に署名した。
She signed the contract without hesitating even once.
Analyzeその記録は百年以上失われることなく、寺に保管されてきた。
The record has been preserved at the temple for over a hundred years without being lost.
Analyze報告書は重要な事実を隠すことなく、調査結果を詳細に伝えている。
The report presents the investigation results in detail without concealing important facts.
Analyze