なくて

I

(-)なくて【無くて】

1 〔無いために〕 for want [lack] of…; in the absence of….

●なくて困るものがたくさんある. I have many needs [wants].

・仕事がなくて困る. I need work [a job] badly.

・時間がなくて困る. I am pressed [hard up] for time.

・やることがなくて参った. I was at (my) wits' end because I didn't have anything to do.

・物的証拠がなくて無罪となった. In the absence of material evidence, the defendant was acquitted.

・心配事もなくて晴れ晴れした気分だ. I feel carefree and cheerful.

2 〔無しに〕 without….

●何の見返りもなくてあいつがこんな親切をするものか. He would hardly be so thoughtful unless he expected something in return.

3 〔無くても〕 ⇒-なくても.

●なくて七癖. Everyone has their own peculiarities [idiosyncrasies, faults]. | Every man has his faults. 【諺】

II

-なくて

●彼でなくて彼の妻がやってきた. It was his wife who came, not him.

・君でなくてだれがそんなことをするものか. Who else but you would do something like that?

・それは今日じゃなくて明日です. That's not today but tomorrow.

・あまり甘くなくて上品な味だ. It has a delicate taste that's not too sweet.

・小さいころは体が丈夫でなくて親を心配させたものだ. I wasn't very healthy as a child, so my parents were always worried about me.

・なかなか話が通じなくて困った. I had a hard time making myself understood.