In the phrase いかないで (Ikanaide), what's the function of で (de)?


I'm aware that 行かない means "don't go" (hope I'm not wrong).

What I don't understand is the function of で. What's its use in this sentence?
(I usually see that character used in です).




The で indicates a request. Incidentally 行かない means "won't go" - 行かないで is
"don't go".




いかないで, without any other context, is the short way of saying いかないでください,
"please don't go". A Japanese verb ending with the positive て or negative ないで
as a single, one-word sentence, is a "please do / please don't" situation:

走らないで（ください）(please) don't run

座らないで（ください）(please) don't sit down

喋らないで（ください）(please) don't talk

来て（ください）(please) come

見て（ください）(please) look

聞いて（ください）(please) listen

omitting ください is often done in casual conversation. It can also give the
request a strong feeling when it is omitted.

