JLPT N4 grammar
〜なくてもいい — Meaning & Examples
"Don't have to." [ない-stem] + なくてもいい. 来なくてもいい (konakutemo ii) = don't have to come. The opposite of obligation — don't confuse with なければならない.
Casual Forms + 〜なくてもいい
In casual speech, なければならない gets shortened — you'll hear these constantly!
Casual "gotta":
・なきゃ（いけない） ・なくちゃ（いけない）
The second half is often dropped entirely:
もう行かなきゃ。(mou ikanakya.) = I gotta go now.
勉強しなくちゃ。(benkyō shinakucha.) = I've gotta study.
"Don't have to" — 〜なくてもいい:
The opposite of obligation. [ない-stem] + なくてもいい
明日は来なくてもいいです。(ashita wa konakutemo ii desu.)
= You don't have to come tomorrow.
心配しなくてもいいよ。(shinpai shinakutemo ii yo.)
= You don't need to worry.
Be careful: なければならない (must) and なくてもいい (don't have to) are opposites — don't mix them up!
Practice questions
Try these 3 questions on 〜なくてもいい. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. "You don't have to come tomorrow" uses?
- 来なくてもいい (konakutemo ii)
- 来てはいけない (kite wa ikenai)
- 来なければならない (konakereba naranai)
- 来てもいい (kitemo ii)
Show answer
Answer: 来なくてもいい (konakutemo ii)
〜なくてもいい = don't have to. 明日は来なくてもいいです = you don't have to come tomorrow.
2. "You must not smoke here" uses?
- 吸わなくてもいい (suwanakutemo ii)
- 吸ってもいい (suttemo ii)
- 吸わなければならない (suwanakereba naranai)
- 吸ってはいけない (suttewa ikenai)
Show answer
Answer: 吸ってはいけない (suttewa ikenai)
〜てはいけない = must not (prohibition). ここでたばこを吸ってはいけません.
3. なければならない and なくてもいい are?
- The same
- Both prohibitions
- Opposites (must do vs don't have to)
- Both permissions
Show answer
Answer: Opposites (must do vs don't have to)
They're opposites: なければならない = must do; なくてもいい = don't have to. A common point of confusion — keep them straight!
Practise 〜なくてもいい in the free app
This point is part of the “Must, May & Must Not — Obligation & Permission” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N4 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N4 grammar points
From the same lesson: Must, May & Must Not — Obligation & Permission
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜なくてもいい mean?
"Don't have to." [ない-stem] + なくてもいい. 来なくてもいい (konakutemo ii) = don't have to come. The opposite of obligation — don't confuse with なければならない.
Is 〜なくてもいい on the JLPT N4 test?
〜なくてもいい is taught in the JLPT N4 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Must, May & Must Not — Obligation & Permission”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜なくてもいい?
Open the “Must, May & Must Not — Obligation & Permission” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N4 mock exams, with no ads.