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〜ずとも

even without, even if (one) doesn't

Verb ない-stem + ずとも (する → せずとも)

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ずとも is a literary "even without doing": わざわざ言わずとも、分かっている, "you don't need to tell me, I know".

The form is the ない-stem + ず (a classical negative, as in ずに, N4) + とも ("even if"). So 言う → 言わずとも, 急ぐ → 急がずとも, and する → せずとも.

The second half usually says the result is fine anyway: 分かる, 間に合う, 治る, 大丈夫だ. It's the formal equivalent of なくても: 急がなくても間に合う = 急がずとも間に合う.

Don't confuse it with ずに, "without doing (and doing something else instead)": 朝ご飯を食べずに出かけた.

Examples

  • わざわざ言いわずとも、分わかっている。

    You don't need to tell me. I know.

  • 急いそがずとも、間まに合あうだろう。

    We'll make it even if we don't hurry.

  • 高たかい薬くすりを使つかわずとも、治なおる病気びょうきだ。

    It's an illness that gets better even without expensive medicine.

  • 説明せつめいされずとも、見みれば分わかる。

    You can tell just by looking, without it being explained.

  • そんなに心配しんぱいせずとも、大丈夫だいじょうぶだ。

    It'll be fine, even if you don't worry so much.

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