〜なければいけない: This grammar shows you must do something. It means you have to do it. There is no other choice.

Dictionary

〜なければいけない

This grammar shows you must do something. It means you have to do it. There is no other choice.

N4 KMT3NeutralStandardAuxiliary ConstructionMixedContracted ObligationGrammar

Verb [ない-form] + ければいけないPrimary

This grammar shows you must do something. It means you have to do it. There is no other choice.

明日までにこのレポートを完成させなければいけない。

I have to finish this report by tomorrow.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingObligationWork & Career Education

電車に乗り遅れたので、駅まで走らなければいけなかった。

I missed the train, so I had to run to the station.

NeutralPastAffirmativeSentence EndingNecessityDaily Life Travel & Transportation

試験に合格しなければいけないから、毎日必死に勉強している。

Because I have to pass the exam, I'm studying desperately every day.

CasualNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceObligationEducation

必ずしもあなたが全部やらなければいけないわけではないですよ。

It's not necessarily the case that you have to do everything yourself.

CasualNon PastNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeWork & Career Emotions & Psychology

健康のために、もっと野菜を食べなければいけないと思っている。

For my health, I feel I have to eat more vegetables.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceNecessityMedicine & Health Food & Dining

This phrase is like saying, "If you don't do it, that's bad." It feels more personal. It shows the speaker really thinks you need to do it.

This is like "〜なければならない". But "〜なければならない" is more formal. You use it in writing. It shows rules or social duties. "〜なければいけない" is more common in talking. It shows what you personally feel you must do. Or what the situation needs. "〜なきゃいけない" and "〜なくちゃいけない" are even more casual ways to say it.

Watch out: Many people mix up "must do" and "must not do." "Must do" uses the negative form of a verb. For example, "eat" becomes "must eat." "Must not do" uses a different verb form. This form shows you cannot do something. For example, "eat" becomes "must not eat."

Often confused with(1)

〜なくてはいけない

This grammar means you must do something. It shows that an action is very important to do.

Contrasts with(1)

〜なければならない

This means you must do something. It shows a strong need to do an action.

More formal alternatives(2)

〜なきゃいけない

You use this phrase to say you 'must' do something. It means you 'have to' do it. It is a shorter way to say a longer phrase.

〜なきゃ

You use this when you must do something. It means 'have to' or 'gotta' in a relaxed way.

Less formal alternatives(2)

〜なければならない

This means you must do something. It shows a strong need to do an action.

〜なくてはならない

Expresses a strong necessity or obligation, equivalent to 'must do' or 'have to do'. It implies that not performing the action or not being in the state is unacceptable.

ない形

This is how you make a verb negative. It means "do not" or "will not." It is the casual way to say 〜ません.

〜てはいけません

This phrase means you must not do something. It shows that doing it is not allowed.

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Dictionary

〜なければいけない

This grammar shows you must do something. It means you have to do it. There is no other choice.

N4 KMT3NeutralStandardAuxiliary ConstructionMixedContracted ObligationGrammar

Verb [ない-form] + ければいけないPrimary

This grammar shows you must do something. It means you have to do it. There is no other choice.

明日までにこのレポートを完成させなければいけない。

I have to finish this report by tomorrow.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingObligationWork & Career Education

電車に乗り遅れたので、駅まで走らなければいけなかった。

I missed the train, so I had to run to the station.

NeutralPastAffirmativeSentence EndingNecessityDaily Life Travel & Transportation

試験に合格しなければいけないから、毎日必死に勉強している。

Because I have to pass the exam, I'm studying desperately every day.

CasualNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceObligationEducation

必ずしもあなたが全部やらなければいけないわけではないですよ。

It's not necessarily the case that you have to do everything yourself.

CasualNon PastNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeWork & Career Emotions & Psychology

健康のために、もっと野菜を食べなければいけないと思っている。

For my health, I feel I have to eat more vegetables.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceNecessityMedicine & Health Food & Dining

This phrase is like saying, "If you don't do it, that's bad." It feels more personal. It shows the speaker really thinks you need to do it.

Often confused with(1)

〜なくてはいけない

This grammar means you must do something. It shows that an action is very important to do.

Contrasts with(1)

〜なければならない

This means you must do something. It shows a strong need to do an action.

More formal alternatives(2)

〜なきゃいけない

You use this phrase to say you 'must' do something. It means you 'have to' do it. It is a shorter way to say a longer phrase.

〜なきゃ

You use this when you must do something. It means 'have to' or 'gotta' in a relaxed way.

Less formal alternatives(2)

〜なければならない

This means you must do something. It shows a strong need to do an action.

〜なくてはならない

Expresses a strong necessity or obligation, equivalent to 'must do' or 'have to do'. It implies that not performing the action or not being in the state is unacceptable.

ない形

This is how you make a verb negative. It means "do not" or "will not." It is the casual way to say 〜ません.

〜てはいけません

This phrase means you must not do something. It shows that doing it is not allowed.

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

〜なければいけない

Patterns1

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Common Mistakes1

Compare with6

Often confused with(1)

Contrasts with(1)

More formal alternatives(2)

Less formal alternatives(2)

Prerequisites2

Track your mastery

〜なければいけない

Patterns1

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Common Mistakes1

Compare with6

Often confused with(1)

Contrasts with(1)

More formal alternatives(2)

Less formal alternatives(2)

Prerequisites2

Track your mastery