N5

Must Do: 〜なければならない

Express obligation clearly and understand one of the most common patterns for saying something must be done.

Form 〜なければならない from plain negative verbs.Use the pattern to express obligation or necessity.Distinguish obligation from stronger commands.

Guided study

How the form is built

Start from the plain negative form ending in ない. Replace ない with なければならない to express 'must do' or 'have to do.'

明日早く起きなければならない。

I have to get up early tomorrow.

起きない becomes 起きなければならない to express obligation.

Interactive word chips will appear once token metadata is added.

しけんの前に勉強しなければなりません。

I have to study before the test.

なりません is the polite version of the same obligation pattern.

Interactive word chips will appear once token metadata is added.