Japanese

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Etymology

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Contraction of なければならない (nakereba (naranai), literally will not allow (something) to not happen).

Suffix

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なきゃ (-nakya (appended after imperfective form)

  1. (informal) must, have to
    もう()なきゃ
    Mō ikanakya.
    I have to go now.
  2. (informal) if one doesn't...
    (べん)(きょう)なきゃ()(けん)()からない
    Benkyōshinakya shiken ni ukaranai.
    If you don’t study, you will fail the exam.

Synonyms

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