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JLPT N4Modal Expressions

なくてもいい— The Optional Exit

Expresses the absence of obligation. It literally means "even if [action] is NOT done, it is fine." Use it to tell someone they may skip an action.

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Pro lessonUNIT 39 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS

Structure · 形

[Verb nai-form drop ない] + なくてもいい

Examples · 例文

  • 今日は来なくてもいいですよ。

    Kyou wa konakute mo ii desu yo.

    You don't have to come today.

    来ない (not come) + ても (even if) + いい (is fine)

  • 全部食べなくてもいいです。

    Zenbu tabenakute mo ii desu.

    You don't have to eat everything.

    食べなくても + いい (permission to leave food)

  • 急がなくてもいいよ。

    Isoganakute mo ii yo.

    You don't have to rush.

    急がなくても + いい (a crucial conversational softener)

Usage notes · 注意

  • The Relationship: This is the direct opposite of なければならない. If "must" is the lock, なくてもいい is the key.
  • Usage Tip: Use this to sound considerate when someone is going to trouble for you: "そんなにしなくてもいいですよ" (You don't have to do that much!).

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones なくてもいい is tested against.

vsなければならない / なくてはいけない

These express obligation ('must'); なくてもいい is their opposite, removing the obligation.

vsてもいい

てもいい grants permission to DO something ('you may eat'); なくてもいい grants permission NOT to do it ('you needn't eat').

More modal expressions

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