How to say "HAVE TO", "NEED TO" "SHOULD HAVE", "I WISH...HADN'T".
ないと、なきゃ、なくちゃ、なければいけない、なければならない 、なくてはいけない、はいけない (mustn't....).
To say I have to, Japanese starts from the negative form of a verb.
Example base verb:
行く → 行かない → 行かなきゃ (I have to go)
行かない = if I don’t go
なきゃ = short for なければ (if I don’t)
So “I have to go” literally means: If I don’t go, it won’t be good.
To make the verb negative:
- Ichidan verbs (~る / ~いる / ~える). For example,
見る → 見ない → 見なきゃ (I have to look)
- Godan verbs Change final u-row kana → a-row + ない. For example,
行く → 行かない → 行かなきゃ
話す → 話さない → 話さなきゃ
待つ → 待たない → 待たなきゃ
- Special う-ending verbs
言う → 言わない → 言わなきゃ
会う → 会わない → 会わなきゃ
- Irregulars
する → しない → しなきゃ
くる → こない → こなきゃ
Informal “Have To” Forms:
1. なきゃ
Most common casual form.
行かなきゃ → I gotta go
言わなきゃ → I have to say
2. ないと
Also casual.
行かないと → I have to go
Often used with 行けない:
行かないと行けない → I have to go
3. なくちゃ
Short for なくては.
行かなくちゃ → I gotta go
Slightly softer/feminine in nuance, but used by everyone.
P.S. If you want to add something at the end of the sentence, like んだ (to explain the reason for the situation) or と思う, you have to add 行けない to connect them.
行かないと行けないんだ
行かなきゃ行けないと思う
Formal “Have To / Must” Forms:
1. なければいけません (subjective “I need to” personal reason).
帰らなければいけません → I need to go home
Meaning: for my own reasons, I need to do this.
Attack on Titan Example (Eren) from Season 1 Episode 11:
Subjective need 俺はみんなの希望にならなきゃいけないんだ → I need to become everyone’s hope.
2. なければなりません (objective “I must” obligation).
試験に合格しなければなりません → I must pass the exam.
Meaning: it is required / expected by others.
Attack on Titan Example (Eren) From Season 1 Episode 11:
Serious obligation / a life or death situation:
成功させなければならない → I must make it succeed.
3. なくてはいけない
You can use なくてはいけない a bit more informally. However, usually there will be some sort of 'force' making you do the task, rather than just your own sense of obligation. For example:
お金がないから、学校を止めなくてはいけない = I have no money, so I have to quit school.
税金を払わなくてはいけない = You have to pay taxes.
明日はテストだから、勉強しなくてはいけません = Tomorrow's the test, so I have to study.
Regret Forms: “I Wish I Had / Hadn’t”:
なきゃ + よかった → I wish I hadn’t....
会わなきゃよかった → I wish I hadn’t met you
何も言わなきゃよかった → I wish I hadn’t said anything.
Formal: 会わなければよかったです.
ばよかった → I should have.....
言えばよかった → I should have said it.
好きだって言えばよかった → I should have told her I love her.
Prohibitions:
てはいけません
It is used to talk about things you may not do. It's used in formal situations, talking about rules and regulations, rather than someone just wanting you to not do something.
写真を撮ってはいけません → You may not take pictures.
Casual: 撮っちゃだめ → Don’t take pictures.
It can also be used to give a strong warning to a friend or a family member in everyday conversations.
It can either be used with nouns, or with the て form of a verb. With nouns, you are telling someone they cannot be something.
With verbs, you are telling someone they cannot do something.
