Obligation: なければ・ないと

Must

なくちゃ・なきゃ

Only used on casual spoken conversations. This form is used with the negative form of a verb (ない), and adding なくちゃ and optionally one of the following ending: だめ, いけない, いけません, ならない, なりません.

なくちゃ is the shortened form of なくては. なきゃ is the shortened form of なければ.

Example

歯はを磨みがかなくちゃいけない。 I must brush my teeth.

なくては「いけない・ならない」

Also formed with the negative form of a verb.

Example

今遅おそいね。寝ねに行かなくてはいけない。 It’s late now. I have to go to sleep.

なければ「いけない・ならない」

Also formed with the negative form of a verb.

Example

事務所じむしょでは静しずかにしなければならない。 You have to be quiet in the office.

ないといけない

Also formed with the negative form of a verb. In casual contexts, can be shortened as ないと.

Example

今日は勉強べんきょうしないといけない。 I have to study today.

Must not

「ちゃ・じゃ」「だめ・いけない・いけません」

Only used on casual spoken conversations. いけません is a bit more formal. This form is used with a V-て, depending on the ending:

• with て, ちゃ is used.
• with で, じゃ is used.

Examples

その花はなを食べちゃだめ。 Don’t eat those flowers.

花か瓶びんの水を飲のんじゃいけない。 Don’t drink the water of the flower vase.

てはいけない

Used in a more formal or written manner. Used with a V-て. てはならない is a stronger form.

Example

鉄てつ道どうに歩あるいてはいけません。 Do not walk on the railroad.

Comparing いけない and ならない

• いけない is the standardly used form. It implies a subjective view, that it would be better to do something, to avoid negative consequences (eg: brushing one’s teeth, eating well, etc).
• ならない is usually more formal or in written form. It implies a is more objective view, something that has to be done because there’s no other way (eg: respecting the law, paying taxes, etc).

Comparing なくては, なければ and ないと

なくては and なければ are generally interchangeable in speech. However:

• なくては is generally used when there is no penalty for not complying.
• なければ is generally used when there is a penalty for not complying.
• ないと is lighter and does not imply that there can or cannot be penalty. Its construction is based on the と particle, and should be based on knowledge or experience.