なくてはいけない
🃏 Flashcard
なくてはいけない
nakute wa ikenai
Tap to reveal usage
must do; need to do
N5
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N5
Beginner · Basic sentence structures
Reading
nakute wa ikenai
Post ID
50643
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
must do; need to do
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
なくてはいけない
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat なくてはいけない three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using なくてはいけない. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N5 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern なくてはいけない mean?
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Must do; need to do
What JLPT level is なくてはいけない?
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JLPT N5 — Beginner · Basic sentence structures. To pass JLPT N5 you need to recognise and use this pattern correctly in reading and listening sections.
How do you use なくてはいけない in a sentence?
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Attach なくてはいけない (nakute wa ikenai) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is なくてはいけない formal or casual Japanese?
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なくてはいけない is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember なくてはいけない long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review at 10 minutes, 1 day and 3 days (spaced repetition). Writing two original sentences at each review session is the fastest way to reach production-level mastery.