Structure
Verb[ないといけない]+ なあかん
Exceptions:
しないといけない → せなあかん
Details
About ないといけない ⇒ なあかん
As a replacement for the obligatory negative statements in standard Japanese (ないといけない, なければいけない, なくてはだめ, etc), なあかん may be used in 関西弁. あかん itself is a 関西弁 word that means 'useless', or 'no good', and is utilized almost as a direct replacement for だめ.
な will pair with the standard negative form of any verb, before adding あかん straight after it. な itself in this structure is an abbreviation of the auxiliary verb ない, in which い has been omitted. なあかん can be translated as 'must do (A)', but more literally is 'not doing (A) is no good'.
な will pair with the standard negative form of any verb, before adding あかん straight after it. な itself in this structure is an abbreviation of the auxiliary verb ない, in which い has been omitted. なあかん can be translated as 'must do (A)', but more literally is 'not doing (A) is no good'.
- 野菜もちゃんと食べなあかんで。You have to eat your vegetables too.
- そういえば今日は祖母ちゃんの家に行かなあかんかったやん。By the way, I had to go to my grandma's house today.
- あんたももう中学生なんやから、家事の手伝いせなあかんよ。Because you are already in middle school, you have to help out with chores.
- 来週行くキャンプ場の周りにはコンビニとかあらへんから、自分たちで食べ物とか持ってこなあかんで。There is nothing like convenience stores around the campsite we are going to next week, so you'll have to bring things such as food on your own.
Caution
As with many other grammar points, する will appear slightly differently in 関西弁 when partnered with なあかん. The most common form that する will be seen in is せなあかん. せ is the negative base of する in Kansai dialect, followed by な (rather than the customary へん).- まだまだ練習せなあかんな。I still have to keep practicing.
- 子供がああいう事したらちゃんと注意せなあかんで。When your kid does something like that, you have to warn them about it.
Fun Fact
More correctly, な is an abbreviation of なければ, the hypothetical form of ない that has been paired with the conjunction particle ば. However, in standard speech, なあかん can realistically replace any obligatory negative structure, not just なければ.Examples
全部食べないといけない。
全部食べなあかん。You have to eat everything.
明日の朝までに宿題を終わらせないといけない。
明日の朝までに宿題を終わらせなあかん。I have to finish my homework by tomorrow morning.
だめ!だめだめだめ。ここから乗ったらダメ、あそこから乗らないといけない。
あかん!あかんあかんあかん。ここから乗ったらあかん、あそこから乗らなあかん。No! No, no, no. You cannot get in from here. You have to get on from there.
毎日薬を飲まないといけないと医者に言われた。
毎日薬飲まなあかんと医者に言われた。Doctor told me that I have to drink the medicine everyday.
はやく部屋を片付けないといけない。
はよ部屋を片付けなあかん。I have to clean my room quickly.
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