Meaning
Something unpleasant or unnecessary was avoided: 休まずに済んだ 'I didn't have to take time off'. With Nで／Vて it means 'it only took…': 一万円で済んだ 'it only cost ten thousand yen'. There is usually a sense of relief; it describes how things turned out, not permission (なくてもいい) or a deliberate choice (ないでおく).
Formation
- Vない → Vず＋に済む: 払わない → 払わずに済む
- する → せずに済む — 残業する → 残業せずに済む
- Vない＋で済む: 行かない → 行かないで済む
- N＋で済む: 一万円 → 一万円で済んだ
- Vて＋済む: 謝る → 謝って済む（問題ではない）
When to use it
- Where to use it
- When telling how something luckily worked out or will work out: 休まずに済んだ, 並ばないで済んだ, 軽いけがで済んだ. Often in the past tense, with ので／おかげで in the first clause.
- Where not to use it
- Not for permission or rules ('you don't have to come' is 来なくてもいい) and not for intentions: ✗しないで済もう — 'I'll choose not to' is しないでおこう.
Examples
20 sentences-
傘を持っていたので、雨にぬれずに済んだ。
I had an umbrella with me, so I managed not to get wet.
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早めに薬を飲んだので、会社を休まずに済みました。
I took medicine early, so I didn't have to take time off work.
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新しいシステムのおかげで、残業せずに済んでいる。
Thanks to the new system, I'm managing without overtime.
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会社の近くに引っ越したので、満員電車に乗らないで済む。
I moved near my office, so I don't have to ride packed trains.
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ネットで予約しておいたので、並ばないで済んだ。
I'd booked online in advance, so I didn't have to wait in line.
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明日の飲み会に行かないで済む方法はないかな？
Is there any way I can get out of tomorrow's drinking party?
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修理代は思ったより安く、一万円で済んだ。
The repair was cheaper than I expected — it only came to ten thousand yen.
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軽いけがで済んで、本当によかったですね。
It's such a relief it was only a minor injury.
12 more examples
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今回のミスは、謝って済む問題ではない。
This mistake isn't something an apology will fix.
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電話で済む話なのに、どうしてわざわざ来たの？
We could have sorted this out over the phone — why did you come all the way here?
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友達が送ってくれて、タクシーを使わずに済んだ。
A friend gave me a ride, so I didn't have to take a taxi.
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データを保存しておいたので、最初からやり直さずに済んだ。
I'd saved the data beforehand, so I didn't have to start over from scratch.
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レポートの締め切りが延びて、徹夜せずに済んだ。
The report deadline was extended, so I didn't have to pull an all-nighter.
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台風の進路がそれて、大きな被害が出ずに済んだ。
The typhoon changed course, so there was no serious damage.
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遅刻したけど、先生に注意されるだけで済んだ。
I was late, but I got off with just a warning from the teacher.
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片付けは二人でやったので、一時間で済んだ。
We cleaned up together, so it only took an hour.
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話し合って済むなら、それが一番いい。
If we can settle it just by talking, that would be best.
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この薬を飲めば、入院しないで済みますか？
If I take this medicine, can I avoid being hospitalized?
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誰にも迷惑をかけないで済んでよかった。
I'm glad I managed not to cause anyone trouble.
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実家が近いので、ベビーシッターを頼まないで済みます。
My parents live nearby, so we can manage without a babysitter.
Important notes
- ずに済む is slightly more written, ないで済む more conversational; なくて済む is also heard in speech.
- Vて済む is mostly used in the negative: 謝って済む問題ではない 'an apology won't fix this'.
- ないでおく is deliberately not doing something; ずに済む means it worked out without it, often regardless of our will (雨にぬれずに済んだ).
Common mistakes
- ✗ 残業しずに済んだ → ✓ 残業せずに済んだ — the ず form of する is せず.
- ✗ 修理は一万円に済んだ → ✓ 修理は一万円で済んだ — 'it came to such-and-such an amount' takes で.
- ✗ 今日は宿題をしないで済もう。 → ✓ 今日は宿題をしないでおこう。 — 済む can't express intention; deliberately not doing something is ないでおく.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
- 〜なくてもいいなくてもいい is permission or lack of necessity, 'you don't have to'; ずに済む reports that something unpleasant was avoided.
- ～ずに・～ずずに simply means 'without doing' (傘を持たずに出かけた); 済む adds 'and it worked out, luckily'.
- ～ことはないことはない is advice, 'there's no need' (心配することはない); ずに済む is a lucky outcome, actual or expected.
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