なければなりません - must do ~

〜なければなりません

Meaning

Expresses an obligation: this needs to be done.

Explanation

Built from a verb's negative ない-form (dropping the final い and adding ければ), plus なりません ("it won't do [otherwise]"), this literally means "if [X] isn't done, it won't do" - in practice, a strong "must."

Formation

Verb (ない-form, drop い) + ければなりません

Examples

毎日薬を飲まなければなりません。
まいにちくすりをのまなければなりません。
I have to take medicine every day.
レポートを今日中に出さなければなりません。
レポートをきょうじゅうにださなければなりません。
I have to hand in the report by the end of today.

Grammar explanations and example sentences written for NihongoTech.