N1 Inevitability and Necessity

~ずには済すまない / ~ないでは済すまない: meaning, usage and examples

~ずには済すまない / ~ないでは済すまない means: cannot avoid... / must...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. ここまで迷惑めいわくをかけたら、直接謝ちょくせつあやまりに行いかずには済すまない。

   Having caused this much trouble, I must go apologize in person.

2. このような重大じゅうだいなミスでは、責任せきにんを取とらないでは済すまないだろう。

   With such a serious mistake, you cannot avoid taking responsibility.

3. 契約けいやく違反いはんとなれば、賠償ばいしょう金きんを払はらわずには済すまないだろう。

   If it turns out to be a breach of contract, they won't get away without paying damages.

4. お借かりした大切たいせつな皿さらを割わってしまったので、弁償べんしょうしないでは済すまない。

   I broke a valuable plate I had borrowed, so I will have to pay for it.

When to use it

Means a situation will not be settled unless you do something: "you can't get away without," "will have to." Society, rules or common sense demand it: 「ここまで迷惑めいわくをかけたら、謝あやまらずには済すまない」. Often about apologizing, paying or taking responsibility.

Nuance

Formal, slightly written. The obligation comes from circumstances or social expectations, not personal desire. Usually unwelcome duties. Often ends with だろう when judging someone else's situation. Common in news, business and serious discussion of mistakes.

Compare

なければならない is a general obligation. ないわけにはいかない is the speaker's own reasoning: 行いかないわけにはいかない. ずには済すまない stresses that the situation will not be resolved otherwise: 弁償べんしょうせずには済すまない. ずにはおかない is about inevitable effects, not duty.

Tip: Think "it won't end there unless..." Common partners: 謝あやまる, 責任せきにんを取とる, 弁償べんしょうする, 説明せつめいする. The feeling is "society will not let it go."