noun, noun, used as a suffix
Used as a noun or suffix to indicate the absence of something. Common in patterns like ～なしで (without ~) or ～なしには (without ~, one cannot).
砂糖なしのコーヒーをください。
Please give me coffee without sugar.
許可なしに入ってはいけません。
You must not enter without permission.
noun
unacceptable; not okay; no good
Colloquial use to reject something as unsatisfactory or not allowed. Often used in casual conversation, especially by younger speakers.
Antonyms: 在り (あり)
そんな言い訳はなしだよ。
That kind of excuse is not okay.
遅刻はなしでお願いします。
Please, no being late (lit. lateness is unacceptable).
ku-adjective (archaic)
nonexistent; not existing
Archaic adjective form, equivalent to modern 無い. Found in classical Japanese; not used in modern speech.
See also: 無い
昔はなしと言ひし言葉も今はなし。
The word that was once said 'there is none' is now itself gone.
Derived from the classical adjective 無し (なし), which is the terminal form of the archaic adjective meaning 'not exist'. The modern noun/suffix usage developed from this root.