なければいけない (nakereba ikenai) Meaning Japanese Grammar - To Be Necessary
Anna Baffa Volpe
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Anna Baffa Volpe
4 min reading time
The structure なければいけない (nakereba ikenai) means must do, have to do, be necessary to do, need to do.
They express duty and necessity.
This is one of the various forms that translate the verb must.
In this post we will also see some examples with another structure for the verb must: なければならない.
How なければいけない is formed
Let's analyze this locution to understand its meaning:
- なければ is the conditional form of ない ⇨
if there is not,if it is not - いけない means
it is not good,it can't go,it is not acceptable
⇨ if it is not, it is no good ⇨ it must be, it is necessary
Example with the Ichidan Verb: 決める, decide
⇨ I have to decide, I must decide
Example with the Godan Verb: 呼ぶ call
⇨ I have to call, I must call
How and when なければいけない is used
なければいけない is used in situations where there is a need to do something, and it expresses a sense of obligation or necessity.
It refers to something that must be done or that is necessary and appropriate to do. It is often used in the first person.
勉強しなければいけない。
I must study.
Or: It is necessary for me to study
午後は旅行の準備をしなければいけない。
I have to prepare for the trip this afternoon.
なければいけない and なければならない
A similar structure we find to express the verb must is なければならない. As we have seen, なければ is the conditional form of the verb ない which means if there is not, if it is not. ならない: doesn't become is the negative form of the verb なる meaning become. ⇨ if it is not, it doesn't become ⇨ it must be
明日は試験がありますから、９時までに学校に行かなければなりません。
Tomorrow I have an exam, so I have to be at school by 9am.
今晩は早く寝なければいけない。
I have to go to bed early tonight.
In general, the two expressions なければならない and なければいけない are interchangeable, but there is a subtle difference in meaning. なければならない has a strong tone and usually indicates that something must be done due to some kind of obligation, responsibility, or command. On the other hand, なければいけない is used for something that must be done for an inevitable reason, and there is a reason why it must be done. It is often used in the first person. If we say:
会議に出席しなければならない。
I have to attend the meeting.
it means that I received an order in the company, from a superior. Instead:
会議に出席しなければいけない。
I have to attend the meeting.
it means that my presence at the meeting is necessary and inevitable.
なきゃいけない
In a colloquial and informal context, the same structure can be found in the variant:
なきゃ＋ いけない whose なきゃ is the contraction form.
彼には本当のことを話さなきゃいけない。
I have to tell him the truth.
なきゃ is often used singularly as a shortened form of なければならない or なければいけない.
行かなきゃ！
We have to go!
なくちゃ is another informal and colloquial variant of なければならない or なければいけない.
あと5分で電車が来るから、急がなくちゃ。
The train is coming in five minutes, so we have to hurry.
どうして野菜を食べなきゃいけないの?
Why should I eat vegetables?
Examples of なければいけない
この仕事を終わらせるためには、もっと集中しなければいけない。
I need to concentrate more in order to finish this job.
電車に乗る前に切符を買わなければいけない。
I have to buy the ticket before getting on the train.
レポートは金曜日までに出さなければいけません。
The report must be submitted by Friday.
やらなきゃいけないことをやる方法。
How to do what you have to do.
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