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

Author Anna Baffa Volpe for article 'なければならない (nakerebanaranai) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Must'

Anna Baffa Volpe

4 min reading time

Updated on 30 April 2023

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

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.

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++りません
Verb[Negative Base B1]+なければ++りませんでした
Newsletter

Learn something new Every Week 🇯🇵

Every week new ideas and explanations about the Japanese Language, sent directly to your inbox 📧

Examples of なければならない

明日(あした)(ちゅう)(ほん)(かえ)さなければなりません。

I have to return the book by tomorrow.

(らい)(げつ)テストがありますから(べん)(きょう)しなければならない。

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

()(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.
(きょう)(いく)こそ: Education is what it is all about; Education is the key

(きょう)(いく)こそ()(らい)より(さき)(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.

Verb[Negative Base B1]+なきゃ
Verb[Negative Base B1]+なくちゃ

(いそ)がなきゃ!

We must hurry!

()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:

Premium

Complete access to all the material published in the past and published new every week. Many more audio resources: listen to original audio sentences and dialogues with captions and explanations. Full dialogues to explain every grammar, word, or kanji in the details in a real Japanese context.

Support the website

Our supporters have access to extra explanations, examples, audio, and more 🙏🏼

Support us to unlock
Newsletter

Learn something new Every Week 🇯🇵

Every week new ideas and explanations about the Japanese Language, sent directly to your inbox 📧