Interpreting いかなければなりません

[elleqelle]

I came across いかなければなりません in a graded reader and I am not certain how to interpret the phrase. Google translate says “I have to go.” One can only trust google translate as far as one can throw it though.

I understand 行かなければ as something along the lines of “when/if I go,” and なりません as “not become.” But, I don’t understand how those are working together. Am I missing something on how the potential form works? (I haven’t studied it yet.) My little bit of searching the forum for that phrase makes me think it is might be a colloquial phrase. Any help would be appreciated.

Full context: 鬼ヶ島は、海を渡っていかなければなりませ。

[Leebo]

[negative conditional] + [negative] is a common way to say “must” or “have to”

It’s basically “if I don’t [something] then it’s not good”

The negative at the end can be ならない, いけない, and probably something else I’m forgetting (EDIT: ah, right, things like だめ, or あかん if you’re in Kansai like me)

It’s a set expression, so don’t worry about the literal meaning of なる.

http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar/must

[elleqelle]

Ah, ok. That was very helpful. Thank you!

[Leebo]

No problem!

As an aside, it’s of course okay to make a dedicated topic when you have a question, but if you’re interested, we also have a running short grammar questions topic if you don’t feel like making a topic.

Short Grammar Questions

This thread is for grammar questions that are too short to create a new topic for them. We used to have a thread like this but it’s been archived. If your question is more comlplex, maybe do make a new thread. I’ll start: I know that in Japanese, 行く and 来る are from the perspective of the speaker, not the listener, so: “I will come to the park” - 私は公園に行く。 Does this apply to 持ってくる (to bring) as well? Example: “I will bring it to the post office” ① 私は郵便局に持っていく ② 私は郵便局に持ってくる