Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 9: 12/13

なくちゃ・なきゃ

Must do, Have to do

Common abbreviations

Structure

Verb[ない] + きゃ(1) + いけない
Verb[ない] + くちゃ+ いけない

(1) なけりゃ

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Expression

  • Register

    Casual

  • 品詞

    表現

  • 単語の種類

    砕けた言い方

  • 使用域

    タメ語

About なくちゃ・なきゃ

なくちゃ (short forなくては), and なきゃ (short for なければ) are the most common colloquial abbreviations used to convey that something 'must', or 'has to' be done.
Like てはいけない (must not), なくてはいけない (must), and なくてはならない (must), these abbreviation forms can be followed by いけない, ならない, or だめ. However, they are usually omitted, without changing the meaning.
Structures like this are referred to as spoken/colloquial language. These casual variations can come across in a very similar way to words like 'gotta' in English.
  • 今日(きょう)(いえ)掃除(そうじ)なきゃだめだから(あそ)ない
    Since I must tidy up the house today, I won't hang out.
  • 野菜(やさい)()なくちゃいけない。
    I must eat vegetables.
  • あっ、洗濯(せんたく)なきゃ
    Oops, I gotta do laundry.
  • 宿題(しゅくだい)なくちゃ
    I gotta do my homework.
In these examples, a variety of forms have been used naturally. There is no 'most natural' form, and it will often depend on the speaker as to which they choose.
As with almost all grammatical structures, the shortest variations (not including いけない, etc.) are the most casual/used the most often.
There are several other ways that these common abbreviations can appear based on region, or even an individual speaker's preference. An example of this is なけりゃ, which is a (very) casual form of なければ.
  • (まえ)やらなけりゃだめだろ
    You must do it! (Why aren't you doing what you must do?)
In this example, we can see that some of these less common variations are used specifically by certain genders (in general). なけりゃ itself tends to be used by male speakers, and may be considered a bit rougher than なきゃ, or なくちゃ, which can be used by anybody.

Examples

  • 日本語(にほんご)勉強(べんきょう)なくちゃいけない

    You must study Japanese.

  • (あつ)ので(みず)()なきゃいけない

    Since it is hot, you must drink water.

  • もっと文法(ぶんぽう)勉強(べんきょう)なくちゃいけない

    I must study more grammar.

  • ()いに()なきゃいけない

    I must go shopping.

  • 明日(あした)テストだからもっと勉強(べんきょう)なくちゃいけない

    Since there is a test tomorrow I must study more.

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なくちゃ・なきゃ – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (31 in total)

  • Marcus

    Marcus

    About 1 year ago

    I know I was in this thread asking pretty much the same question nearly four years ago, but I stopped studying for a long time. The reason I stopped is because it’s all just so very difficult! And here we go again. I hate hate hate grammar, and especially this grammar point, but this time I’m determined to fight my way through it. But I need your help!

    So, I added a self-study sentence from an anime I’m watching, but then had a thought… of course I added the answer from the anime, but I wondered what other answers would be possible here?

  • Marcus

    Marcus

    About 1 year ago

    Yet another question if I may!

    The question asks for: “colloquial short form of ば*て+いく”

  • Charlotte_Bulman

    Charlotte_Bulman

    About 1 year ago

    Is this in the wrong place? When I go through to Maggie sensei’s link provided in the notes she has tagged this as N3 level grammar!

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