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.
Verb [ない-form] + なきゃいけないPrimary
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.
そろそろ帰らなきゃいけない時間だね。
It's about time we have to head home, isn't it?
昨日は朝早く起きなきゃいけなかったから、大変だったよ。
I had to get up early yesterday morning, so it was tough.
明日の会議までに、この資料を全部読まなきゃいけないんだ。
I have to read all of these documents by tomorrow's meeting.
ゲームを続けたいけど、宿題をしなきゃいけないから、ここでやめるね。
I want to keep playing the game, but since I have to do my homework, I'll stop here.
すみません、子供を迎えに行かなきゃいけないので、お先に失礼します。
Excuse me, I have to go pick up my child, so I'll be leaving now.
This is a short way to say "must do." It is like saying "gotta do" instead of "have to do." The longer form, "なければいけない," is more formal. "なくちゃいけない" means the same thing. "なきゃ" is even shorter. It is very casual.
Watch out: You add なきゃいけない to the verb stem. Do not add it to the full negative verb form. For example, say "行かなきゃいけない" (ikanakya ikenai). Do not say "行かないなきゃいけない" (ikanai nakya ikenai). You drop the "い" from the negative form.
Don't use this when you write formal papers. For example, don't use it in a business email. You cannot say "don't have to" with this form. Use "nakutemo ii" for "don't have to."
Often confused with(1)
More formal alternatives(1)
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.