Japanese Grammar Bank

OBLIGATION IN JAPANESE

Do you want to say “I must~”, “I have to ~”, or “you must not” in Japanese?

Do you want to understand the sign board on the street that tell you what you should do and shouldn’t do?

If so, you will be fascinated to learn how to express obligation and prohibition in the Japanese language.

OBLIGATION

Remove the final ~ない from the nai-form of a verb and add ~なければなりません.

This expression conveys the idea that something has to be done no matter what.

This expression doesn’t have a negative meaning even though ない-form is used.

PATTERN

Verb ない-form + なければなりません

病院に行かなければなりません。Byouin ni ika nakereba narimasen.I must go to hospital.
ソーシャルディスタンスを取らなければなりません。Soosyaru dhisutansu wo tora nakereba narimasen.You must keep a social distance.
View More Examples:
テスト勉強をしなければなりません。Tesuto benkyou wo shi nakereba narimasen.I must study for exams.
薬を飲まなければなりません。Kusuri wo noma nakereba narimasen.I must take medicine.
法律を守らなければなりません。Houritsu wo mamora nakereba narimasen.We must obey laws.
ダイエットをしなければなりません。Daietto wo shi nakereba narimasen.I must do the diet.

MUST, HAVE TO // CASUAL FORM

Remove the final ~ない from the nai-form of a verb and add ~なくちゃ(~なきゃ).

This is a very casual way of expressing obligation, but it is very natural in a daily conversation.

PATTERN

Verb ない-form + なくちゃ(なきゃ)

病院に行かなくちゃ。Byouin ni ika nakucha.I must go to hospital.
ソーシャルディスタンスを取らなくちゃ。Soosyaru dhisutansu wo tora nakucha.You must keep a social distance.
View More Examples:
テスト勉強をしなくちゃ。Tesuto benkyou wo shi nakucha.I must study for exams.
薬を飲まなきゃ。Kusuri wo noma nakya.I must take medicine.
法律を守らなきゃ。Houritsu wo mamora nakya.We must obey laws.
ダイエットをしなきゃ。Daietto wo shi nakya.I must do the diet.

PROHIBITION

This pattern is used to express prohibition, meaning “must not”.

We use the て-form of a verb and add はいけません。

PATTERN

Verb て-form + はいけません

今日はお酒を飲んではいけません。Kyou wa osake wo nonde waikemasen.You must not drink alcohol today.
ここで遊んではいけません。Kokode asonde wa ikemasen.You must not play here.
View More Examples:
公園で花火をしてはいけません。Kouen de hanabi wo shite wa ikemasen.You must not play with fireworks in the park.
人の物を盗んではいけません。Hito no mono wo nusunde wa ikemasen.You must not steal other people’s property.
食べ過ぎてはいけません。Tabe sugite wa ikemasen.You must not overeat.
海に行ってはいけません。Umi ni itte wa ikemasen.You must not go to sea.

MUST NOT // CASUAL FORM

PATTERN

Verb て-form + はだめ

There is a more casual way of saying “You must not”.

It is used in spoken language, especially among friends and family. We use the て-form of a verb and add はだめ.

今日はお酒を飲んではだめ。Kyou wa osake wo nonde wa dameYou must not drink alcohol today.
ここで遊んではだめ。Kokode asonde wa dame.You must not play here.
View More Examples:
公園で花火をしてはだめ。Kouen de hanabi wo shite wa dame.You must not play with fireworks in the park.
人の物を盗んではだめ。Hito no mono wo nusunde wa dame.You must not steal other people’s property.
食べ過ぎてはだめ。Tabe sugite wa dame.You must not overeat.
海に行ってはだめ。Umi ni itte wa dame.You must not go to sea.

PLEASE DO NOT…

This pattern is used to instruct someone not to do something. Use the ない-form of a verb and add でください.

PATTERN

Verb ない-form + でください

ここで飲食をしないでください。Koko de inshoku wo shinai de kudasai.Please do not drink and eat here.
私は健康なので、心配しないでください。Watashi wa kenkou nanode, shinpai shinai de kudasai.I am healthy, so please do not worry about me.
View More Examples:
安全のため、走らないでください。Anzen no tame, hashiranai de kudasai.Please do not run for safety reasons.
かばんはここに置かないでください。Kaban wa koko ni okanai de kudasai.Please do not put bag here.
危険な国には行かないでください。Kiken na kuni niwa ikanai de kudasai.Please do not go to dangerous countries.
あの人の言うことは聞かないでください。Ano hito no iu kotowa kikanai de kudasai.Please do not listen to that person. 

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FAQs

How to express obligation in Japanese?

The most common way to express obligation is by using the structure なければならない (nakereba naranai) or なければいけない (nakereba ikenai), which both mean “must” or “have to.” These expressions indicate that something is required or necessary.

How to express prohibition in Japanese?

Prohibition is typically expressed using ～てはいけない (～te wa ikenai) or ～てはならない (～te wa naranai), which mean “must not” or “not allowed to.” These structures are used to indicate that a specific action is forbidden.

Is there a casual way to express obligation?

Yes, in casual conversation, the contracted form なきゃ (nakya) or なくちゃ (nakucha) can be used to express obligation, meaning “must” or “have to.” These forms are less formal and often heard in everyday speech.

なければならない vs なければいけない

Both phrases mean “must” or “have to,” and they are interchangeable in most situations. However, なければいけない is slightly more casual and conversational, while なければならない can sound a bit more formal or strict.

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