～なくちゃ・～なきゃ
Casual way to say “must”
You’ll be able to express obligation casually the way native speakers shorten it in speech.
薬を飲まなきゃ。
kusuri o nomanakya.
What do you think this sentence means?
I have to take my medicine.
Say “have to” in casual conversation
～なくちゃ and ～なきゃ are common spoken shortcuts for longer obligation patterns. They are casual and often appear when the rest of the sentence is understood.
もう行かなくちゃ。
mou ikanakucha.
I have to go now.
～なくては → ～なくちゃ
Contract なくては to なくちゃ. The following いけない is often omitted in casual speech.
行かない → 行かなくちゃ。
ikanai → ikanakucha.
not go → I have to go.
勉強しない → 勉強しなくちゃ。
benkyou shinai → benkyou shinakucha.
not study → I have to study.
早く寝ない → 早く寝なくちゃ。
hayaku nenai → hayaku nenakucha.
not sleep early → I have to go to bed early.
～なければ → ～なきゃ
Contract なければ to なきゃ. This is also very common in casual speech.
行かない → 行かなきゃ。
ikanai → ikanakya.
not go → I have to go.
起きない → 起きなきゃ。
okinai → okinakya.
not get up → I have to get up.
宿題をしない → 宿題をしなきゃ。
shukudai o shinai → shukudai o shinakya.
not do homework → I have to do my homework.
～なくてはいけません vs ～なくちゃ
Both mean “have to” or “must”. 〜なくちゃ is the casual, everyday shortcut for the polite 〜なくてはいけません.
Casual
もう行かなくちゃ。
mou ikanakucha.
I have to go now.
Said to a friend, or to yourself.
Polite
もう行かなくてはいけません。
mou ikanakute wa ikemasen.
I have to go now.
The full form, for polite speech.
もう行かなくちゃ。
mou ikanakucha.
I have to go now.
明日は早く起きなきゃ。
ashita wa hayaku okinakya.
I have to get up early tomorrow.
宿題をしなくちゃ。
shukudai o shinakucha.
I have to do my homework.
12 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.