Meaning
Expresses an obligation to perform an action.
Formation
- Drop い from the ない form and add くてはいけない: 行かない → 行かなくてはいけない; the other full form is 行かなければならない
- The と variant: 行かないといけない
- Colloquial contractions: なくちゃ, なきゃ
When to use it
- Core use
- Expresses an obligation to perform an action
Examples
13 sentences-
毎日薬を飲まなくてはいけません
I must take medicine every day.
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明日早く起きないといけない
I have to get up early tomorrow.
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明日は六時に起きなければなりません
Tomorrow I must get up at six.
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小さな荷物を運ばなければなりません
I have to carry the small luggage.
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もう遅いから早く帰らなくちゃ
It is late, so I have to hurry home.
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古い雑誌を捨てなければなりません
I have to throw away the old magazines.
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明日までに宿題をしなきゃ
I have to do my homework by tomorrow.
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毎日日本語を勉強しなくてはなりません
I must study Japanese every day.
5 more examples
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短い手紙を書かなければなりません
I have to write a short letter.
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九時までに会社に行かないといけません
I have to get to the office by nine.
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駅の名前を覚えなければなりません
I have to memorize the station name.
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図書館の本を返さなければなりません
I have to return the library books.
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晩ご飯の準備をしなければなりません
I have to prepare dinner.
Important notes
- 行かなくてはいけない and 行かなければならない both mean 'have to go'; 行かないといけない is common in speech, and casual speech often drops the end: 行かなきゃ, 行かないと.
Common mistakes
- Keep なく: 食べなくてはいけない (must eat) vs 食べてはいけない (must not eat). なくてもいい means the opposite, no obligation: 食べなくてもいい.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
Hear it in podcasts
The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.
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