なければならない (nakerebanaranai) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Must

Anna Baffa Volpe

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JLPT N5

4 min reading time

Anna Baffa Volpe

4 min reading time

なければならない (nakereba naranai) is one of the forms used to translate the verb must do and have to do.

なければな

なければな (nakereba) is the negative conditional form of ない (nai), meaning not to be, not to exist. In its conditional form, its translation becomes if there is not.

ならない

ならない (naranai), on the other hand, is the negative plain form of なる (naru) and is translated not become.

なければならない

Putting these two terms together with their translations we have:

なければならない: If it is not (like this) [なければな], then it does not become [ならない]

This grammatical structure contains a double negation. The overall meaning of the word なければならない translates as you must.

Grammar Structure

Verb［Negative Base B1］+なければ+なら+ない

Verb［Negative Base B1］+なければ+なら+なかった

Verb［Negative Base B1］+なければ+な+りません

Verb［Negative Base B1］+なければ+な+りませんでした

Examples of なければならない

明日(あした)中(ちゅう)に本(ほん)を返(かえ)さなければなりません。

I have to return the book by tomorrow.

来(らい)月(げつ)テストがありますから勉(べん)強(きょう)しなければならない。

I have to study, because I have an exam next month.

仕(し)事(ごと)はしなければならない。

I must work.

Or: Work has to be done.

Other forms for the verb "must"

なければならない (nakereba naranai)
なければいけない (nakereba ikenai)
なくてはならない (nakutewa naranai)
なくてはいけない (nakutewa ikenai)
ないといけない (nai to ikenai)

Education must move before the future. — 教(きょう)育(いく)こそ: Education is what it is all about; Education is the key

教(きょう)育(いく)こそ未(み)来(らい)より先(さき)に動(うご)かなければならない。

Education must anticipate the future.

Literally: It is precisely the education that must move before the future.

なきゃ and なくちゃ

"Must, have to" in Japanese Manga and Anime

In colloquial language, in Japanese manga and anime, in the conversation among friends and family members, we find 2 informal and confidential expressions for the verb must: なきゃ and なくちゃ.

Grammar Structure

Verb［Negative Base B1］+なきゃ

Verb［Negative Base B1］+なくちゃ

急(いそ)がなきゃ！

We must hurry!

行(い)かなくちゃ！

We have to go!

You have to do it properly! — やらなきゃ！ or やらなきゃいけない！: you musto do it!

やる (do) ⇨ Negative Base in あ or B1: やら ⇨ やら + なきゃ ⇨ やらなきゃ: must do

ちゃんとやらなきゃ！

You have to do it properly!

Books and blogs from Internet:

大人(おとな)になる前(まえ)にしなければならない５０のこと。

50 things you must do before you grow up.

A funny explanation of しなければならない:

しなければならないぞ...強(きょう)制(せい)という圧(あつ)力(りょく)がかかってる感(かん)じ。

I must!... I feel the pressure of coercion.

50代(だい)でしなければならない５５のこと。

55 things you must do in your 50s.

代(だい) from is a numeric suffix, counter words used in conjunction with a number and indicating the category to which the noun to be counted belongs, in this case indicates generations, years, age.