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

Dictionary

〜なきゃ

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

N3 KMT5CasualCasual ContractionSpoken OnlyContracted ObligationGrammar

Verb [ない-form, drop い] + なきゃPrimary

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

やばい、もうこんな時間！早く寝なきゃ。

Oh no, it's so late! I've got to go to sleep soon.

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingObligationDaily Life

このレポート、明日までに出さなきゃ、部長に怒られるぞ。

I've got to submit this report by tomorrow, or the manager will get angry.

CasualNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceObligationWork & Career

あー、テストの前に、もっとちゃんと復習しとかなきゃだったなあ…。

Ah, I really should have reviewed more properly before the test...

CasualPastAffirmativeSentence EndingObligationEducation

このケーキ、美味しそう！一口食べなきゃ！

This cake looks delicious! I just have to have a bite!

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingNecessityFood & Dining

そろそろ買い物に行かなきゃ。冷蔵庫が空っぽだ。

I should go shopping soon. The refrigerator is empty.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingNecessityDaily Life Home & Housing

This phrase shows you really want to do something. It's like a strong feeling inside you. It's not someone else telling you what to do. It's your own strong wish.

This is like 〜なくちゃ (nakucha). Both mean "have to." They are both short ways to say longer phrases. You can use them in the same way most of the time.

Don't use this when you write formal things. For example, don't use it in a school essay.

Often confused with(1)

〜なくちゃ

A casual, spoken contraction expressing obligation or necessity, equivalent to 'must' or 'have to'. It is a contracted form of 〜なくてはいけない or 〜なくてはならない.

Less formal alternatives(3)

〜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.

〜なければならない

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

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.

〜なければならない

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

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Dictionary

〜なきゃ

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

N3 KMT5CasualCasual ContractionSpoken OnlyContracted ObligationGrammar

Verb [ない-form, drop い] + なきゃPrimary

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

やばい、もうこんな時間！早く寝なきゃ。

Oh no, it's so late! I've got to go to sleep soon.

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingObligationDaily Life

このレポート、明日までに出さなきゃ、部長に怒られるぞ。

I've got to submit this report by tomorrow, or the manager will get angry.

CasualNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceObligationWork & Career

あー、テストの前に、もっとちゃんと復習しとかなきゃだったなあ…。

Ah, I really should have reviewed more properly before the test...

CasualPastAffirmativeSentence EndingObligationEducation

このケーキ、美味しそう！一口食べなきゃ！

This cake looks delicious! I just have to have a bite!

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingNecessityFood & Dining

そろそろ買い物に行かなきゃ。冷蔵庫が空っぽだ。

I should go shopping soon. The refrigerator is empty.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingNecessityDaily Life Home & Housing

This phrase shows you really want to do something. It's like a strong feeling inside you. It's not someone else telling you what to do. It's your own strong wish.

This is like 〜なくちゃ (nakucha). Both mean "have to." They are both short ways to say longer phrases. You can use them in the same way most of the time.

Don't use this when you write formal things. For example, don't use it in a school essay.

Often confused with(1)

〜なくちゃ

A casual, spoken contraction expressing obligation or necessity, equivalent to 'must' or 'have to'. It is a contracted form of 〜なくてはいけない or 〜なくてはならない.

Less formal alternatives(3)

〜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.

〜なければならない

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

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.

〜なければならない

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

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.

〜なきゃ

Patterns1

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with4

Often confused with(1)

Less formal alternatives(3)

Prerequisites2

Track your mastery

〜なきゃ

Patterns1

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with4

Often confused with(1)

Less formal alternatives(3)

Prerequisites2

Track your mastery