〜なければならない: This means you must do something. It shows a strong need to do an action.

Dictionary

〜なければならない

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

N4 KMT4NeutralStandardAuxiliary ConstructionMixedObligation And NecessityGrammar

Verb [ない-form] + ければならないPrimary

い-Adjective [stem] + くなければならない

な-Adjective + でなければならない

Noun + でなければならない

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

明日までにこの書類を提出しなければならない。

I have to submit these documents by tomorrow.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingObligationWork & Career

昨日は一日中、病気の弟の面倒を見なければならなかった。

Yesterday, I had to take care of my sick younger brother all day.

NeutralPastAffirmativeSentence EndingObligationFamily & Relationships Medicine & Health

毎日ジムに行かなければならないわけではないが、健康のためには良い。

It's not that you have to go to the gym every day, but it's good for your health.

NeutralNon PastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeMedicine & Health Sports & Martial Arts

全ての国民は、法律を守らなければならない。

All citizens must obey the law.

FormalNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingObligationPolitics & Law

ビザを申請するにはいくつかの書類を揃えなければならないので、早めに準備を始めよう。

Since you have to gather several documents to apply for a visa, let's start preparing early.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceObligationTravel & Transportation Work & Career

This phrase is like a strong command. It means you absolutely must do something. It feels very firm, like a rule. So people often use softer words instead.

This grammar is like saying 'must do'. It is stronger than 'nai to ikenai'. That phrase means 'have to do' for a situation. This grammar is also more formal than 'nai to ikenai'. You might see 'nakute wa naranai' in formal writing. It means almost the same thing.

Watch out: Using this too much can sound like a strong order. It is like saying "You must do this!" This can seem rude. For advice, use softer phrases. For example, say "it would be better to..." or "how about doing...?" These sound much nicer.

Contrasts with(1)

〜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.

More formal alternatives(3)

〜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.

〜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(1)

〜なければなりません

This means you must do something. It shows a strong need to act. It is a polite way to say it.

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.

Verb stem form

This is a special form of a verb. You use it to join verbs together. You can also use it to make a noun from a verb.

条件形 (えば)

This grammar means 'if' or 'when'. You use it for things that are generally true. You also use it for advice or ideas.

〜になる

This means something changes. It shows how something becomes different. It is like 'become' or 'turn into'.

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Dictionary

〜なければならない

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

N4 KMT4NeutralStandardAuxiliary ConstructionMixedObligation And NecessityGrammar

Verb [ない-form] + ければならないPrimary

い-Adjective [stem] + くなければならない

な-Adjective + でなければならない

Noun + でなければならない

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

明日までにこの書類を提出しなければならない。

I have to submit these documents by tomorrow.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingObligationWork & Career

昨日は一日中、病気の弟の面倒を見なければならなかった。

Yesterday, I had to take care of my sick younger brother all day.

NeutralPastAffirmativeSentence EndingObligationFamily & Relationships Medicine & Health

毎日ジムに行かなければならないわけではないが、健康のためには良い。

It's not that you have to go to the gym every day, but it's good for your health.

NeutralNon PastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeMedicine & Health Sports & Martial Arts

全ての国民は、法律を守らなければならない。

All citizens must obey the law.

FormalNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingObligationPolitics & Law

ビザを申請するにはいくつかの書類を揃えなければならないので、早めに準備を始めよう。

Since you have to gather several documents to apply for a visa, let's start preparing early.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceObligationTravel & Transportation Work & Career

This phrase is like a strong command. It means you absolutely must do something. It feels very firm, like a rule. So people often use softer words instead.

Contrasts with(1)

〜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.

More formal alternatives(3)

〜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.

〜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(1)

〜なければなりません

This means you must do something. It shows a strong need to act. It is a polite way to say it.

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.

Verb stem form

This is a special form of a verb. You use it to join verbs together. You can also use it to make a noun from a verb.

条件形 (えば)

This grammar means 'if' or 'when'. You use it for things that are generally true. You also use it for advice or ideas.

〜になる

This means something changes. It shows how something becomes different. It is like 'become' or 'turn into'.

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.

〜なければならない

Patterns4

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Common Mistakes1

Compare with5

Contrasts with(1)

More formal alternatives(3)

Less formal alternatives(1)

Prerequisites4

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〜なければならない

Patterns4

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Common Mistakes1

Compare with5

Contrasts with(1)

More formal alternatives(3)

Less formal alternatives(1)

Prerequisites4

Track your mastery