Grammar Info
N5 Lesson 9: 9/13
なくてはならないMust do, Have to do
Also used to express duty or necessity. Click here if you are curious about なくて conjugation
Structure
Verb[ない]+ なくては + ならない
Verb[ない]+ なくちゃ + ならない
Details
Part of Speech
Expression
Word Type
Auxiliary Verb
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Formal
About なくてはならない
Much like てはならない, なくてはならない states that something 'must not' be done. However, this is where the similarities end. なくてはならない is an example of a double negative in Japanese, and actually has the meaning '(A) must be done', or 'must do (A)'.
While this grammar point is usually translated as 'must do', the literal translation is 'must not, not do (A)'. This double 'not' is where many learners have difficulties. ならない simply means 'cannot become', and comes from the negative form of なる.
To use this structure, simply create the negative form of a verb, and then convert ない to なく (the conjunctive form of an い-Adjective), followed by て. After this, は is added, and then finally ならない.
ならない is considered to be the most formal structure out of ならない, いけない, and だめ. It is regularly used in formal writing, or semi-formal/formal speech. いけない (the most common variation) and だめ (the most casual variation) are also acceptable in many situations.
Caution
The ては in なくては is often shortened to ちゃ, as this is easier to say. なくちゃ may then be followed by ならない. However, due to ならない being quite formal, なくちゃ (a casual structure) will not be used with ならない on a regular basis. It is more common to see なくちゃ paired with いけない, or だめ.
These casual structures are very similar to words like 'gotta' in English.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Examples
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毎日勉強をしなくてはならない。
You must do your studies every day.
3時半までに、銀行に行かなくてはならない。
By 3:30, I have to go to the bank.
もう二時ですか!まだお弁当食べてないです。食べなくてはならない。
It's already two?! I haven't eaten my bento yet. I have to eat.
京都で電車を降りなくてはならない。
I must get off the train in Kyoto.
君が決めなくてはならないよ。
You have to decide.
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How to say “must do something”
NihonOnTheGo
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Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
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なくてはならない – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (36 in total)
Pep95
Is there a reason why ~なくてはならない is N5 grammar, and ~てはならない is N2 grammar? Is it so rarely used that it is moved all the way to the N2 category?
Haruto
Following this, I also was wondering. Might as well learn them together.
JamesBunpro
We organise grammar points based on JLPT level. The JLPT itself broadly follows frequency and importance in terms of ordering. It doesn’t necessarily follow how difficult something is to learn, with some difficult grammar being introduced early on due to being common and important.
At N2 there are a couple of other points which are close to てはならない in appearance, which can cause confusion. Namely, てならない (‘can’t help but…’) and (ねば)ならぬ (‘must do’).
At N2 you are more likely to be asked to judge what grammar is appropriate based on context, as context sensitivity becomes more important as you learn more grammar points which seem to mean the same thing. I can imagine てはならない being used in a multiple choice question in that specific way. There is not much imaginable benefit in trying to test someone at N5 on the contextual nuance of this point. It is also important to note that the JLPT does not restrict grammar points to certain levels, so you may see grammar points at diff...
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