N4106/179

なくてもいい

V-なくてもいいいAdj-くてもいいNaAdj-でなくてもいいNoun-でなくてもいい

Meanings

It's okay not to ~
You don't have to ~
You may skip ~

About this pattern

Explanation

なくてもいい expresses that it is acceptable or permissible to skip or not do something. It conveys a relaxed obligation: the action is not required or necessary. It can refer to actions, properties, or situations that you don’t need to meet or possess. It is commonly used to soften requests or suggestions, making a statement about optionality rather than a firm requirement.

Learn in context

Example sentences

日本語を勉強しなくてもいいです。

You don’t have to study Japanese.

今日は早く帰らなくてもいいですよ。

You don’t have to go home early today.

この会議には出なくてもいいです。

You don’t have to attend this meeting.

この靴は高くなくてもいいですよ。

These shoes don’t have to be expensive.

明日までに提出しなくてもいい場合もあります。

There are cases where you don’t have to submit it by tomorrow.

Related patterns

Or something; Any... (with question words); No matter (who)

easy to (do); likely to (happen); easy to be affected by

Difficult to; Hard to; Not easy to do something

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More N4 patterns

Or something; Any... (with question words); No matter (who)

easy to (do); likely to (happen); easy to be affected by

Difficult to; Hard to; Not easy to do something

Gradually; Little by little; Step by step

more and more; rapidly; increasing quickly; progressively

We/They/You all (plural forms); These/Those (plural demonstratives); Plural suffix for certain pronouns and demonstratives