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Activities: "Obligations and prohibitions: How to say “have to” and “must not” in Japanese?"

By: Mayumi Ito

Activity 1: Forming sentences

Let’s start with practicing forming basic obligation/need (〜なければならない/いけない) and prohibition (〜てはいけない) sentences. First, fill in the blanks on the verb table.
  • Dictionary formnai-formte-form
    呼ぶ
    Transcription: yobu
    Translation: to call; invite

    ない

    呼んで

    nai

    yonde

    捨てる
    Transcription: suteru
    Translation: to throw away

    ない

    nai

    連れて来る
    Transcription: tsurete kuru
    Translation: to bring someone

    ない

    nai

    ジョギングする
    Transcription: jogingu suru
    Translation: to go for a jog

    ない

    nai

Great work! Now, turn each sentence below into both A) obligation and B) prohibition sentences according to the directions.
  1. 田中さんをパーティーに呼ぶ
    Transcription: Tanaka san o pātii ni yobu
    Translation: to invite Mr. Tanaka to the party

    1. Obligation: “You have to invite Mr. Tanaka to the party.”

      。

    2. Prohibition: “You must not invite Mr. Tanaka to the party.”

      。

  2. 古い雑誌を捨てる
    Transcription: furui zasshi o suteru
    Translation: to throw away the old magazines

    1. Obligation: “You must throw away the old magazines.”

      。

    2. Prohibition: “You must not throw away the old magazines.”

      。

  3. ジョンさんを連れて来る
    Transcription: Jon san o tsurete kuru
    Translation: to bring John with you

    1. Obligation: “You must bring John with you.”

      。

    2. Prohibition: “You must not bring John with you.”

      。

  4. 明日の朝、ジョギングする
    Transcription: ashita no asa, jogingu suru
    Translation: to go for a jog tomorrow morning

    1. Obligation: “You must go for a jog tomorrow morning.”

      。

    2. Prohibition: “You must not go for a jog tomorrow morning.”

      。

Activity 2: Finishing sentences

Fill each blank by choosing the most appropriate answer from the word bank. Then finish the English translation based on the complete Japanese sentence.

  1. 着る transcribed kirumeaning to put on

    外で遊ぶときは、セーターを      なくてはいけませんよ。
    [Soto de asobu toki wa, sētā o        nakute wa ikemasen yo.]
    Select your answer

    You a sweater when you play outside.

  2. にぎやか transcribed nigiyakameaning lively

    うん、やっぱりパーティーは      なくちゃ。
    [Un, yappari pātii wa        nakucha. ]
    Select your answer

    Yeah, a party after all.

  3. のむ transcribed nomumeaning take (medicine)

    この薬を１日に２回      なければなりませんよ。
    [Kono kusuri o ichinichi ni ni kai        nakereba narimasen yo. ]
    Select your answer

    You this medicine twice a day, OK?

  4. する transcribed surumeaning to do

    ごめん。お母さんの手伝いを      なきゃいけなかったんだ。
    [Gomen. Okāsan no tetsudai o        nakya ikenakatta nda. ]
    Select your answer

    Sorry. I my mom.

  5. 日本人 transcribed nihonjinmeaning Japanese (person)

    健康保険に入るには、      なければなりませんか。
    [Kenkō hoken ni hairu ni wa, ___ nakereba narimasen ka.]
    Select your answer

    Do we in order to get health insurance?

  6. 持ってくる transcribed motte kitemeaning to bring

    今日は何か料理を      ないといけなかったのかな。
    [Kyō wa nanika ryōri o ___nai to ikenakatta no kana.]
    Select your answer

    I wonder if we some dishes today.

  7. 背が高い transcribed se ga takaimeaning to be tall

    バスケの選手になるには、      なければなりませんか。
    [Basuke no senshu ni naru ni wa, ___ nakereba narimasen ka.]
    Select your answer

    Do I in order to become a basketball player?

  8. かむ transcribed kamumeaning to chew

    授業中にガムを      はいけません。
    [Jūgyōchū ni gamu o ___ wa ikemasen.]
    Select your answer

    You gum during the class.

  9. 残す transcribed nokosumeaning to leave (something) untouched

    めい、野菜を      はだめですよ。
    [Mei, yasai o ___ wa dame desu yo.]
    Select your answer

    Mei, you your vegetables untouched.

Activity 3: Forming more sentences

Read each scenario and write a sentence that expresses either obligation or prohibition. Key words are given, but you may have to change the form.

  1. Your parents / spouse / older siblings (choose one!) is/are working overtime today. You have to step up and cook dinner for the family. (No problem because you have been watching so many cooking shows!)

    Word Bank: 料理する transcribed ryōri surumeaning to cook, 私 transcribed watashimeaning I, 今日 transcribed kyōmeaning today

    今日は。

  2. You’ve decided to cook curry and rice (everyone’s favorite!) When you start cooking, you realize that you don’t have the box of curry roux! Luckily, there is a convenience store just around the corner from your house. You have to go buy it now.

    Word Bank: 買いに行く transcribed kai ni ikumeaning to go buy, カレールー transcribed karē rūmeaning curry roux, コンビニ transcribed konbinimeaning convenience store

    コンビニに。

  3. After dinner, you start working on your homework / take-home work / tax return / first novel. Your younger siblings / children / nephews / nieces are making too much noise in the living room! You raise your voice to be heard and tell them they MUST NOT MAKE SO MUCH NOISE!

    Word Bank: 騒ぐ transcribed sawagumeaning to make noise, そんなに transcribed son’nanimeaning so much

    そんなに。

  4. Oh, no, it’s already 10 p.m. You tell your younger siblings / children / nephews / nieces that they must go to bed right away.

    Word Bank: 寝る transcribed nerumeaning to go to bed, もう transcribed mōmeaning already, ほら transcribed horameaning hey there

    ほら、。

  5. The house is finally quiet! But you are too tired to continue your work. You decide to go to bed. Before you fall asleep, you tell yourself that you must get up at 4:00 the next morning to finish your work. (Good luck with that!)

    Word Bank: 起きる transcribed okirumeaning to get up, 4時 transcribed yo jimeaning four o’clock, 明日の朝 transcribed ashita no asameaning tomorrow morning

    明日の朝は。