GRAMMAR
〜だに〜ない
not even
never
Explanation
NOTE
〜だに〜ない means not even — not even the smallest degree of an action happens.
彼は微動だにしない。
He does not move even a little.
NOTE
It is formal and emphatic. The だに part marks a minimal action, and the verb is always negative.
そんなことは想像だにしなかった。
I never even imagined such a thing.
だに often pairs with verbs like 想像する or 予想する to stress that not even a thought occurred.
NOTE
Attach だに to a noun, then add a negative verb such as しない or 〜ない.
STRUCTURE
N辞
だに +Vない彼は微動だにしない。
Kare wa bidou dani shinai.
He does not move even a little.
失敗など予想だにしなかった。
Shippai nado yosou dani shinakatta.
I never even expected a failure.
その事件を想像だにしたくない。
Sono jiken o souzou dani shitakunai.
I do not even want to imagine that incident.
Practice exercises
1
彼は微動だにしない。
He does not move even a little.
Answer
だにしない
2
そんな結果は予想だにしなかった。
I never even expected such a result.
Answer
しなかった
3
その光景は想像だにしたくない。
I do not even want to imagine that scene.
Answer
だにしたくない
4
戦場での過酷な体験は、語るにだに忍びない。
The harsh experiences on the battlefield are such that I cannot even bear to recall them.
Answer
だに
5
誰にも言うべからざる秘密を、家族にだに話さない。
A secret that must never be told to anyone — he doesn't even tell his family.
Answer
だに
6
人の道に外れる行為は、心にだに浮かばない。
An act that strays from the human path doesn't even cross my mind.
Answer
だに
7
説明なしに理解は不可能で、想像にだに及ばない。
It is impossible to understand without explanation; it is something one cannot even begin to imagine.
Answer
だに
8
彼の心の中は誰にも分からず、推測にだに及ばない。
No one knows what is in his heart; one cannot even begin to guess at it.
Answer
だに