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 “sen (hundredth of a yen)”?
Which word means “door (esp. Japanese-style)”?
Which word means “cat (esp. the domestic cat, Felis catus)”?
Which word means “to touch”?
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.