GRAMMAR DETAIL

〜ずとも

without even

Indicates that the following judgment or result holds sufficiently even without the preceding action.

Examples

詳しく説明せずとも、図を見れば内容が分かる。

Even without a detailed explanation, you can understand the content by looking at the diagram.

名前を言わずとも、顔を見れば分かる。

Even without being told the name, I can tell by looking at the face.

Structure: ずとも follows a verb's negative stem and formally concedes that the following result holds even without that action.
Basic usage: 詳しく説明せずとも、図を見れば内容が分かる。 means the diagram makes the content understandable without a detailed explanation.

Connecting suru and other verbs
- 説明する becomes 説明せずとも, and 言う becomes 言わずとも. In everyday language these can be expressed as 説明しなくても and 言わなくても, respectively.
An omitted action versus an unnecessary condition
- 言わずに帰った reports actually leaving without speaking. 言わずとも分かる says understanding holds without speaking being required, distinguishing the state connection with ずに from the concession with ずとも.