Nakutemo yoi なくても

Predicative phrase (expressing absence of obligation/necessity) meaning: need not, (not) have to.

Yoi may be replaced by ii.

1. After the stem of nai-form of verb
そんなに急いでやらなくてもいいです。
Sonna ni isoide yaranakutemo ii desu.
You need not do it so hastily.
電話をしてくれればわざわざ来なくてもよかったですよ。
Denwa o shite kurereba wazawaza konakutemo yokatta desu yo.
If you had given me a call you need not have come all this way.
これは書かなくてもよいですか。
Kore wa kakanakutemo yoi desu ka.
Is it all right if I don't write this?

2. After ku-form of adjective
車は動けば新しくなくてもよいです。
Kuruma wa ugokeba atarashiku nakutemo yoi desu.
As long as the car moves it needn't be new. (The car needn't be new; it just has to run.)

3. After (adjectival) noun + de
返事は今日でなくてもいいです。
Henji wa kyou de nakutemo ii desu.
The answer does not need to be given today.
説明は完全でなくてもよい。
Setsumei wa kanzen de nakutemo yoi.
The explanation does not need to be perfect.


-> See also: nakereba ikenai, nakereba naranai, neba naranai, temo

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