〜なくてもいい — Do not have to do it | JLPT N4 grammar

Meaning

Used when an action is not necessary.

20 sentences

明日あしたは来こなくてもいいです
You do not have to come tomorrow.
この問題もんだいは全部ぜんぶ書かかかなくてもいいです
You do not have to write all of this problem.
元気げんきなら薬くすりを飲まのまなくてもいいです
If you feel fine, you do not have to take the medicine.
日曜日にちようびは早くはやく起きおきなくてもいいのでうれしいです
I am happy that I do not have to get up early on Sundays.
今日きょうは寒くさむくないからコートを着きなくてもいいです
It is not cold today, so you do not have to wear a coat.
今日きょうはオンライン会議かいぎなので、会社かいしゃに行かなくてもいかなくてもいいです
Today's meeting is online, so I do not have to go to the office.
まだ時間じかんがあるので急がいそがなくてもいいです
There is still time, so you do not have to hurry.
教科書きょうかしょは買わかわなくてもいいです
You do not have to buy the textbook.

12 more examples

分からわからない質問しつもんには答えこたえなくてもいいです
You do not have to answer questions you do not understand.
この仕事しごとは今日きょう終わらおわらなくてもいいです
You do not have to finish this work today.
小さなちいさな荷物にもつを運ばはこばなくてもいいです
You do not have to carry the small luggage.
青いあおい封筒ふうとうを選ばえらばなくてもいいです
You do not have to choose a blue envelope.
古いふるい雑誌ざっしを捨てすてなくてもいいです
You do not have to throw away the old magazines.
台所だいどころの窓まどを開けあけなくてもいいです
You do not have to open the kitchen window.
旅行りょこうの写真しゃしんを見みなくてもいいです
You do not have to look at the travel photos.
短いみじかい手紙てがみを書かかかなくてもいいです
You do not have to write a short letter.
友達ともだちの話はなしを聞かきかなくてもいいです
You do not have to listen to my friend's story.
駅えきの名前なまえを覚えおぼえなくてもいいです
You do not have to memorize the station name.
家いえの鍵かぎを探ささがさなくてもいいです
You do not have to look for the house key.
晩ご飯ばんごはんの準備じゅんびをしなくてもいいです
You do not have to prepare dinner.

Do not read 来なくてもいい as “do not come”: to ask someone not to come, use 来ないでください. なくてもいい removes the obligation; it does not forbid the action.

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

Sentence 1: 分からわからない質問しつもんには答えこたえなくてもいいです You do not have to answer questions you do not understand.It is okay to sit here.I must practice kanji every day.
Sentence 2: 旅行りょこうの写真しゃしんを見みなくてもいいです You do not have to look at the travel photos.It is okay to eat first.I must get up early tomorrow.
Sentence 3: 晩ご飯ばんごはんの準備じゅんびをしなくてもいいです I must submit this report by today.It is okay to use a computer in this room.You do not have to prepare dinner.

The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.