do not have to do

Drop the final i of the nai form, add kute mo ii desu, and you get lack of obligation: konakute mo ii desu means you do not have to come. It is the opposite of nakereba narimasen. Note it does not mean must not; that is te wa ikemasen.

Examples

• 明日あしたは来こなくてもいいです。

  Ashita wa konakute mo ii desu.

  You don't have to come tomorrow.

• 靴くつを脱ぬがなくてもいいですよ。

  Kutsu o nuganakute mo ii desu yo.

  You don't have to take off your shoes.

Vocabulary in these examples

• 明日 tomorrow
• 来る to come
• いい good; fine (also: no thank you)
• 靴 shoes
• 脱ぐ to take off (clothes)

Related patterns · Permission, obligation, ability

• 〜てもいいです may do, it is okay to do (permission)
• 〜てはいけません must not do (prohibition)
• 〜ないでください please do not do
• 〜なければなりません must do, have to do
• 〜ことができます can do, be able to do