18 Aug
have to & don't have to | Minna no Nihongo | Lesson 17
### Expressing "Have to" and "Don't Have to" in Japanese | Minna no Nihongo | Lesson 17
In Lesson 17 of "Minna no Nihongo," you'll learn how to express necessity and lack of necessity in Japanese. These concepts are essential for talking about obligations and permissions. Hereโs how to use the structures for "have to" and "donโt have to" in Japanese.
### 1. **Expressing "Have to"**
To express "have to" or "must" in Japanese, you use the structure **ใชใใใฐใชใใพใใ (nakereba narimasen)**. This form indicates that something is necessary or obligatory.
#### **Structure:**
- **Verb Stem + ใชใใใฐใชใใพใใ (nakereba narimasen)**
#### **Examples:**
- **ๅฎฟ้กใใใชใใใฐใชใใพใใใ** (Shukudai o shinakereba narimasen.)
ย - I have to do my homework.
ย - Here, **ใใชใใใฐใชใใพใใ** (shinakereba narimasen) shows that doing homework is an obligation.
- **ใใฎๆธ้กใๆๅบใใชใใใฐใชใใพใใใ** (Kono shorui o teishutsu shinakereba narimasen.)
ย - I have to submit this document.
ย - **ๆๅบใใชใใใฐใชใใพใใ** (teishutsu shinakereba narimasen) indicates the necessity to submit the document.
### 2. **Expressing "Don't Have to"**
To express "donโt have to" or "not necessary" in Japanese, you use the structure **ใชใใฆใใใใงใ (nakutemo ii desu)**. This form indicates that something is not required or allowed, giving you the freedom to choose whether to do it or not.
#### **Structure:**
- **Verb Stem + ใชใใฆใใใใงใ (nakutemo ii desu)**
#### **Examples:**
- **ๅฎฟ้กใใใชใใฆใใใใงใใ** (Shukudai o shinakutemo ii desu.)
ย - You donโt have to do your homework.
ย - **ใใชใใฆใใใใงใ** (shinakutemo ii desu) suggests that doing homework is not obligatory.
- **ใใฎใฌใใผใใๆๅบใใชใใฆใใใใงใใ** (Kono repลto o teishutsu nakutemo ii desu.)
ย - You donโt have to submit this report.
ย - **ๆๅบใใชใใฆใใใใงใ** (teishutsu nakutemo ii desu) indicates that submitting the report is not necessary.
### **Practical Examples**
#### **1. Obligation (Have to):**
- **ๆๆฅใพใงใซใใฎไปไบใ็ตใใชใใใฐใชใใพใใใ** (Ashita made ni kono shigoto o oenakereba narimasen.)
ย - I have to finish this work by tomorrow.
- **่ฌใๆฏๆฅ้ฃฒใพใชใใใฐใชใใพใใใ** (Kusuri o mainichi nominakereba narimasen.)
ย - You have to take the medicine every day.
#### **2. Permission (Don't Have to):**
- **้
ใๆฅใฆใใใใงใใ** (Osoku kite mo ii desu.)
ย - You donโt have to come early (you can come late).
- **ใใฎ่ณชๅใซใฏ็ญใใชใใฆใใใใงใใ** (Kono shitsumon ni wa kotaenakutemo ii desu.)
ย - You donโt have to answer this question.
### Summary
- **ใชใใใฐใชใใพใใ (nakereba narimasen)**: Used to express obligations or necessities, meaning "have to" or "must."
- **ใชใใฆใใใใงใ (nakutemo ii desu)**: Used to express that something is not required, meaning "donโt have to" or "not necessary."
By understanding and using these structures, youโll be able to clearly express obligations and permissions in Japanese. Practice these forms to become more comfortable with discussing what must be done and what is optional. Happy studying!
