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

(1) なけりゃ

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Expression

  • Word Type

    Informal Speech

  • Register

    Casual

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.

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.

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.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related

Examples

--:--

    日本語(にほんご)を勉強(べんきょう)しなくちゃいけない。

    You must study Japanese.

    暑(あつ)いので水(みず)を飲(の)まなきゃいけない。

    Since it is hot, you must drink water.

    もっと文法(ぶんぽう)を勉強(べんきょう)しなくちゃいけない。

    I must study more grammar.

    買(か)いに行(い)かなきゃいけない。

    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)しなくちゃいけない。

    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

    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

    Yet another question if I may!

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

  • Charlotte_Bulman

    Charlotte_Bulman

    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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