🌸 Japanese Topic 67初級🌿 Elementary

〜なければなりません

...nakereba narimasen

Must / Have to

🌸 Expressing Obligation and Necessity 🌸

💬 Dialogue

🌸 Expressing Obligation 🌸

田中：もう11時ですね。帰らなければなりません。

Tanaka: Mou juu-ichi-ji desu ne. Kaeranakereba narimasen.

It's already 11 o'clock. I must go home.

佐藤：そうですね。明日も早く起きなければなりませんか。

Sato: Sou desu ne. Ashita mo hayaku okinakereba narimasen ka.

That's true. Do you have to wake up early tomorrow too?

田中：はい、明日は会議があるので、8時に来なければなりません。

Tanaka: Hai, ashita wa kaigi ga aru node, hachi-ji ni konakereba narimasen.

Yes, since there is a meeting tomorrow, I must come at 8.

佐藤：大変ですね。私もレポートを書かなければなりません。

Sato: Taihen desu ne. Watashi mo repooto o kakanakereba narimasen.

That's tough. I have to write a report too.

田中：薬も飲まなければなりません。お大事に。

Tanaka: Kusuri mo nomanakereba narimasen. Odaiji ni.

I also have to take medicine. Take care.

佐藤：ありがとうございます。おやすみなさい。

Sato: Arigatou gozaimasu. Oyasuminasai.

Thank you. Good night.

📖 Vocabulary

5 words

KanaRomajiEnglish

かえるkaeruto return / go home

おきるokiruto wake up

かいぎkaigimeeting

かくkakuto write

くすりkusurimedicine

⭐ Key Sentence

V-ない form (drop い) + ければなりません

V-nai (drop i) + kereba narimasen

Must do / Have to do

Pattern: 〜なければなりません
Meaning: Expresses obligation or necessity.

勉強しなければなりません。

Benkyou shinakereba narimasen.

I must study.

薬を飲まなければなりません。

Kusuri o nomanakereba narimasen.

I have to take medicine.

🎓 Explanation

To express that something is necessary or obligatory, use the 〜なければなりません structure.

This is formed by taking the negative (nai) form of a verb, dropping the final い (i), and adding ければなりません.

Literally, it means 'if you don't do it, it won't become (right)', which translates to 'must' or 'have to'.

Ikanai → Ikanakereba narimasen
= 'Must go'

Tabenai → Tabenakereba narimasen
= 'Must eat'

📝 Quiz

How do you say 'I must go home' in Japanese?