なきゃ
なきゃ
auxiliary
have to; must (casual)
1.
have to; must; need to
casual contraction of なければ (nakereba); expresses obligation or necessity; often used with ならない, いけない, or だめ (omitted in very casual speech)
行かなきゃ。
I gotta go.
宿題やらなきゃいけない。
I have to do my homework.
もう帰らなきゃだめかな。
I guess I have to go home now.
CASUAL CONTRACTION:
なきゃ is a casual spoken contraction of なければ:
- なければ → なきゃ
- なければならない → なきゃならない → なきゃ (with ending often omitted)
VARIATIONS:
- なきゃ (most casual, ending often dropped)
- なくちゃ (another casual form from なくては)
- なきゃいけない / なきゃだめ (with explicit obligation)
FORMATION:
Verb negative stem + なきゃ
- 行く → 行かなきゃ
- 食べる → 食べなきゃ
- する → しなきゃ
REGISTER:
Casual speech only. Use なければなりません in formal contexts.