English: “must / have to.” Japanese expresses obligation as a double negative that literally means “if you don’t, it won’t do”: 〜なければならない (formal), 〜なきゃ (casual). The flip side — “don’t have to” — is 〜なくてもいい. Clunky at first, automatic with use.
Today's words
銭
sen (hundredth of a yen)
ねこ
cat (esp. the domestic cat, Felis catus); feline
触る
to touch; to feel
戸
door (esp. Japanese-style)
Write today's kanji — tap to replay
銭
触
戸
See it in real sentences
ごめんなさい。早く帰らなくちゃ。
No. I'm sorry, I've got to go back early.
睡魔と空戦わなくちゃ。
You'd better fight off sleep.
あんなに早く起きなければよかった。
I shouldn't have gotten up so early.
自分でいかなきゃいけませんよ。
You have to appear in person.
わたし、新しい服を買わなくちゃ。
I have to get some new clothes.
生活をきりつめなくちゃと思っているのです。
I have to tighten my belt.
Practice
Spaced review — recall from earlier days (tap to flip)
circumference
周り
1d ago
small
小さい
1d ago
drumming (noise)
どんどん
3d ago
weak
弱い
3d ago
market
市
7d ago
(United States of) America
アメリカ
7d ago
Recall
Which word means “door (esp. Japanese-style)”?
Which word means “to touch”?
Which word means “cat (esp. the domestic cat, Felis catus)”?
Which word means “sen (hundredth of a yen)”?
Listen and choose
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Your turn — say it, then check
Say: “No. I'm sorry, I've got to go back early.”
ごめんなさい。早く帰らなくちゃ。
Say: “You'd better fight off sleep.”
睡魔と空戦わなくちゃ。
👀 Today’s input · ~15 min — where fluency actually comes from
Real-world Japanese
NHK News Web Easy is now within reach — simplified news with furigana *and* audio, so you can read and listen at the same time. Do one short article a day; hover past what you don’t know.