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 (34 in total)

  • Roppo

    Roppo

    Do なくちゃ/なきゃ have past tense forms by themselves? Like なくちゃった or should it be なくちゃいけなかった in that case? Was just wondering as I confused the past tense form of ちゃう (as in てしまう) with this one while reading.

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    Hey @Roppo !

    Since なくちゃis an abbreviation for なくては and なきゃ for なければ, they do not have their own past tense forms like ちゃう which is an abbreviation for てしまう! This means that なくちゃand なきゃ needs to be paired with だめ or いけない when conjugating them in the past form.

    However, in casual conversation you may here them used without だめ or いけない.

    I hope this answers your question!

  • Roppo

    Roppo

    Perfect, thank you very much for the clarification!

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