～なくてもいい

N4

～なくてもいい

~nakutemo ii

don't have to / it's okay if not

N4

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Explanation

The grammar point ～なくてもいい is used to say that something is not necessary or required. It expresses that it is okay if an action does not happen, and is often translated as 'don't have to' or 'it's okay if not' in English. Used with the negative (nai) form of verbs.

Structure

Pattern
Verb (ない-form) + なくてもいい
Verb (ない-form)The negative (nai) form of a verb, e.g., 飲まない (nomanai), しない (shinai)
Examples: 食べない, 行かない, 書かない
なくてもいいMeans 'it's okay if not' or 'don't have to'.
Examples: 飲まなくてもいい, しなくてもいい

Examples

Example 1
コーヒーは飲まなくてもいいです。
Koohii wa nomanakutemo ii desu.
You don't have to drink the coffee.
Breakdown
コーヒーcoffee
はtopic marker
飲まなくてもeven if (you) don't drink
いいgood/okay
ですpolite ending
Example 2
宿題を今日しなくてもいいです。
Shukudai wo kyou shinakutemo ii desu.
It's okay if you don't do your homework today.
Breakdown
宿題homework
をobject marker
今日today
しなくてもeven if (you) don't do
いいgood/okay
ですpolite ending
Example 3
すぐに返事をしなくてもいいですよ。
Sugu ni henji wo shinakutemo ii desu yo.
You don't have to reply immediately.
Breakdown
すぐにimmediately
返事reply
をobject marker
しなくてもeven if (you) don't do
いいgood/okay
ですpolite ending
よemphasis
Example 4
全部食べなくてもいいですから、無理しないでください。
Zenbu tabenakutemo ii desu kara, muri shinai de kudasai.
You don't have to eat everything, so please don't force yourself.
Breakdown
全部everything
食べなくてもeven if (you) don't eat
いいgood/okay
ですpolite ending
からbecause/so
無理overdo/force
しないでdon't do
くださいplease

Related Grammar

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