()

ぬき
noun
without; excluding; leaving out
1. without; excluding; leaving out (as a suffix)
Used as a suffix attached to a noun to mean "without that thing" or "with that thing removed." Extremely common in food ordering, daily conversation, and written instructions.
わさび()きでお(ねが)いします。
Without wasabi, please.
朝食(ちょうしょく)()きで()かけた。
I went out without having breakfast.
冗談(じょうだん)��()きで、これは大変(たいへん)問題(もんだい)だ。
Joking aside, this is a serious problem.
(かれ)()きではこのプロジェクトは成功(せいこう)しなかっただろう。
Without him, this project probably wouldn't have succeeded.
2. omission; skipping; cutting corners
The act of leaving something out or cutting corners in a process or task. Often used in the expression 手抜(てぬ)き (cutting corners, doing a sloppy job).
手抜(てぬ)きの仕事(しごと)(ゆる)されない。
Sloppy work is not tolerated.
手抜(てぬ)料理(りょうり)でも意外(いがい)美味(おい)しくできる。
Even shortcuts cooking can turn out surprisingly delicious.

Derived from the verb ()く (to pull out, remove). As a suffix, ()き attaches directly to a noun: Xを()く → X()き (without X). This is one of the most practical suffix patterns for daily life in Japan, especially when ordering food.

Sense 1 ("without") is extremely common. Learners will encounter it constantly at restaurants (わさび()き, (こおり)()き) and in everyday expressions like 冗談(じょうだん)()き (joking aside) and 朝食(ちょうしょく)()き (skipping breakfast).

Sense 2 relates to the compound 手抜(てぬ)き, which is itself a very common word meaning "cutting corners" or "being sloppy."

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • わさび()き: without wasabi
  • (こおり)()き: without ice
  • 朝食(ちょう��ょく)()き: skipping breakfast
  • 冗談(���ょうだん)()き: joking aside
  • 手抜(てぬ)き: cutting corners, sloppy work
  • 手���(てぬ)料理(りょうり): quick-and-easy cooking

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • なし: without, none — a more general word; ()き implies active removal
  • (のぞ)く: to exclude — a verb form; ()き is used as a compact suffix
  • ()し: without — often interchangeable in food orders, but ()き emphasizes "take it out"