Page 243 - Basic Japanese

Notice that the irregular verbs are ko-zu ‘not coming’ and

se-zu ‘not doing’: ko-zu is similar in its irregular vowel to ko-
nai, but se-zu is different from shi-nai. The appropriate form
for nai is arazu, but it is not used in speech. The -(a)zu form is

usually limited to a set expression with the particle ni

meaning either ‘instead of doing’ or ‘without doing,’
depending on the context. Here are some examples where -

(a)zu ni means ‘instead’:

大阪に行かずに岡山に行った。

Ōsaka ni ikazu ni Okayama ni itta.
Instead of going to Osaka, he went to Okayama.

クレジットカードを使わずに現金で払います。

Kurejitto kādo o tsukawazu ni genkin de haraimasu.
Instead of using my credit card, I pay by cash.