~nakereba narimasen & ~nakute mo ii desu
~nakereba narimasen – It’s not right not to do something (have to do)
~nakute mo ii desu – It’s fine not to do something (do not have to do)
To use these, you have to change the the verbs to negative (ie. (tomeru)tomenai, kaku(kakanai), miru(minai))
You have to stop the car – Kuruma o tomenakereba narimasen
You don’t have to stop the car – Kuruma o tomenakute mo ii desu
Other Example
Q : Bōshi o (kaburu)kaburanakereba narimasen ka?
A : Hai, bōshi o kaburanakereba narimasen (Positive Answer)
A : Iie, bōshi o kaburanakute mo ii desu (Negative Answer)
Meaning : Bōshi (Cap), Kaburu (Wear/Put On)
Q : Kimono o (kiru)kinakute mo ii desu ka?
A : Hai, Kimono o kinakute mo ii desu (Positive Answer)
A : Iie, Kimono o kinakereba narimasen (Negative Answer)
Meaning : Kimono (Japanese Tradisional Wear), Kiru (Wear)
Feedburner
December 10th, 2006 at 8:35 pm
-nakareba narimasen is it the same as -shinakute wa naranai? and
-shinakute mo ii desu is it the same as shite wa naranai?
December 10th, 2006 at 8:45 pm
normally, “~naranai” should be used ~kereba (ie: shinakereba) and the second question by using “shite wa naranai”, Japanese normally use “shite wa ikenai”
December 11th, 2006 at 6:57 pm
so,the meaning is also the same?
December 11th, 2006 at 7:19 pm
“shite wa ikenai” means “It’s bad to do something”. We don’t use “shinakute wa naranai”
“shinakereba naranai” means “It’s not right not to do something”. “shite wa naranai” & “shite wa ikenai” are almost the same but usually Japanese uses “Shite wa ikenai”
June 28th, 2008 at 7:33 am
Can we say “odaiji ni” when someone’s sneezing, does it have the same meaning as “bless you” ?
June 28th, 2008 at 10:25 am
It means “Take Care”.
Hope this help
February 12th, 2009 at 11:46 am
How do I say in Japanese
I didnt have to/wasnt required to move my car?
February 12th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Hi Tina,
You can use “Watashi wa kuruma o ugogasanakute mo ii desu”
Hope this help. Thanks
March 23rd, 2010 at 9:59 am
How would I say “we must stay for 2 weeks.”
March 23rd, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Hi Kellee,
Ni shū kan tomaranakereba narimasen
Hope this help
Thanks
June 16th, 2010 at 2:01 am
Hello Tony,
How could we say : “I would like/ I’m looking for…this or that” when you are in a shop for example.
Also how can we say “You don’t have to hurry, I can wait”
Thank you!
June 16th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Hi Ingrid,
Saifu (wallet) o kaitai desu kedo, doko ni oite arimasu ka
Isoganakute mo ii desu, machimasu kara.
Hope this help
June 16th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Thank you Tony,
Could you just explain me the use of “kedo” in the 1st sentence, is it like “demo/but” ?
Thanks again!
June 16th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
you can also use “ga” which is equivalent to “kedo”
In this example, it doesn’t actually means “but”. It is something like “so”
I’m wish to buy a wallet, so can you show me where it is place
October 1st, 2011 at 3:55 am
what does kasuwa nakute mo ii mean
December 29th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
What’s the difference between “nakute mo” and “nakute wa”?
「なくても」と「なくては」という表現はどんなに違いますか。
February 2nd, 2017 at 2:47 am
Can you please say me the meaning of “hanasa nakereba” ??
August 2nd, 2018 at 5:15 am
Nakereba, If I Do not…..
Ikimasen, not go.
Nakereba Ikimasen, (subject) if I do not it will not go well (for me)
Nakereba yokatta, if I do not (ie, tell a secret) it will be good (for me).
March 24th, 2021 at 7:20 am
Thanks for the helpful post