N5 — outside your level filter
ないといけない
ないといけないnai to ikenaiN5neutral
Same meaning6
must do
- なければならないmust do; have to doattaches at
- なくてはいけないmust do; have to doattaches at
- ねばならないmust do; is obliged to do (written)attaches at
- わけにはいかないcan't very well do — ruled out by the situation, not a ruleattaches at
- よりほかないnothing for it but to do; no course is left butattaches at
- ざるを得ないhave no choice but to do; cannot avoid doingattaches at
All examples2
must do; have to — stating a plain obligation
明日までにレポートを出さないといけない。
ashita made ni repooto o dasanai to ikenai.
I have to hand in the report by tomorrow. neutral
I'd better… — a resolve to yourself, ending on a clipped ないと
もう帰らないと。
mou kaeranai to.
I've gotta head home. casual
How it's formed1
All forms4
ないとだめnaitodamecolloquial
味わわないとだめ
ないとnaitocontraction
味わわないと
Trailed off at the end of a sentence — もう行かないと。
- pastないといけなかったnaitoikenakatta
味わわないといけなかった
- politeないといけませんnaitoikemasen
味わわないといけません
Notes
This と is the conditional と ("if you don't do it, it won't do"). That's why
行かないと。 feels complete, not missing a word.
行かないと。 feels complete, not missing a word.