JLPT N4 Grammar – Difference between “〜ないほうがいい” and “〜なくてもいい”
Table of Contents
1. Difference between “〜ないほうがいい” and “〜なくてもいい”
2. 〜ないほうがいい
3. 〜なくてもいい
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment
Q: What is the difference between “〜ないほうがいい” and “〜なくてもいい”?
A: “〜ないほうがいい” is used when the speaker gives an opinion or advice. On the other hand, “〜なくてもいい” is used to indicate that an action is not necessary or that something is not a problem even if it is absent. Let’s take a closer look at each expression.
〜ほうがいい (JLPT N4)
[Meaning]
To give an opinion or suggestion
To recommend something
[Rule]
[V] Verb past form / ない form + ほうがいい
[Examples]
今日は雨が降るらしいから、かさを持って行ったほうがいいよ。
It looks like it’s going to rain today, so you should take an umbrella.
このお菓子は変な味がするから、食べないほうがいいです。
This snack tastes strange, so you’d better not eat it.
熱があるなら、無理をしないで早く寝たほうがいいですよ。
If you have a fever, you should take it easy and go to bed early.
体調が悪いときは、冷たい飲み物を飲まないほうがいいです。
When you’re not feeling well, it’s better not to drink cold beverages.
The speaker uses this expression when giving an opinion or recommendation. It can sometimes carry a slightly commanding nuance. However, whether or not to accept the suggestion is left to the listener’s judgment.
[Examples]
A：今度、駅前にできた新しいレストランに行こうと思ってるんです。
B：え、私はもう行ったけど、あまりおいしくないし高いし、行かないほうがいいと思うよ。
A: I’m thinking of going to the new restaurant that just opened in front of the station.
B: Oh, I’ve already been there, but it wasn’t very good and it’s expensive, so I think you’d be better off not going.
⇒ This expresses the opinion that “it’s better not to go to the restaurant.”
For the difference between
“〜ばいい” and “〜ほうがいい,”
please check out this article.
〜なくてもいい (JLPT N4)
[Meaning]
To indicate that a certain action is not necessary
To express that something is not a problem even if it is absent
[Rule]
[V] Verb ない form い + く + てもいい
[Examples]
A：パーティーに何か持って行きましょうか。
B：食べ物も飲み物もたくさん用意しましたから、何も持って来なくてもいいですよ。
A: Should I bring something to the party?
B: We’ve prepared plenty of food and drinks, so you don’t need to bring anything.
好きじゃないなら食べなくてもいいよ。
If you don’t like it, you don’t have to eat it.
明日は休みだから、早起きしなくてもいいよ。
Since tomorrow is a day off, you don’t have to wake up early.
クレジットカードで支払うなら、現金を持って行かなくてもいいですよ。
If you’re paying by credit card, you don’t need to bring cash.
This expression is used to indicate that a certain action is not necessary or that something is not a problem even if it is absent.
[Examples]
A: 今日は遅くまで起きているんだね。
B: うん。明日はアルバイトが休みだから、早く起きなくてもいいんだ。
A: You’re staying up late today.
B: Yeah. I have the day off from my part-time job tomorrow, so I don’t have to wake up early.
⇒ This conveys that waking up early tomorrow is not necessary.
A: これ、コピーしましょうか？
B: たぶん、この枚数で足りるから、コピーしなくてもいいですよ。
A: Should I make a copy of this?
B: I think this number of copies is enough, so you don’t need to make more.
⇒ This conveys that the current number of copies is sufficient, so making additional copies is unnecessary.
Let’s Compare
So, in the following situations, which expression do you think is more appropriate?
[Example①]
A: ABCカンパニーの新しいスマホ、買おうと思ってるんだ！
B: お兄ちゃんが言ってたけど、カメラもあまり良くないし、故障も多いから（買わないほうがいい・買わなくてもいい）よ。
[Example②]
子供: お父さん、このゲーム買って！
父: この間、新しいゲームを買ったところだよ。（買わないほうがいい・買わなくてもいい）よ。
The correct answers are: ①買わないほうがいい, ②買わなくてもいい.
[Example①]
A: ABCカンパニーの新しいスマホ、買おうと思ってるんだ！
B: お兄ちゃんが言ってたけど、カメラもあまり良くないし、故障も多いから買わないほうがいいよ。
A: I’m thinking of buying the new smartphone from ABC Company!
B: My brother told me that the camera isn’t very good and it breaks down a lot, so you’d better not buy it.
[Example②]
子供: お父さん、このゲーム買って！
父: この間、新しいゲームを買ったところだよ。買わなくてもいいよ。
Child: Dad, can you buy me this game?
Father: We just bought a new game the other day. You don’t need to buy another one.
In ①, the speaker is giving an opinion or advice based on a stated reason, suggesting that “it’s better not to buy it.”
In ②, since a new game was just purchased, the speaker is conveying that “there is no need to buy a new one.”
As shown here, determining the appropriate expression depends on understanding the context of the conversation.
Summary
[〜ないほうがいい]
- Used when the speaker gives an opinion or recommendation.
- In some cases, it may carry a slightly commanding nuance.
[〜なくてもいい]
- Used to indicate that a certain action is not necessary or that something is not a problem even if it is absent.
Quiz
Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. 食べないほうがいい
健康に悪いからお菓子ばかり食べないほうがいいよ。
You shouldn’t eat too many sweets because it’s bad for your health.
*Since this conveys the opinion that it is bad for your health, “ないほうがいい” is the correct choice.
A. 来なくてもいい
医者：もう元気そうなので、病院には来なくてもいいです。
Doctor: You seem to be feeling better, so you don’t need to come to the hospital.
*Since this implies that coming is unnecessary, “なくてもいい” is the correct choice.
A. 起きていないほうがいい
子供：風邪をひいたみたい。
母：じゃあ遅くまで起きていないほうがいいね。
Child: I think I caught a cold.
Mother: Then, you’d better not stay up too late.
*Since the mother’s tone has a slightly commanding nuance, “ないほうがいい” is the correct choice.
A. 買わなくてもいい
卵は冷蔵庫にあるから買わなくてもいいよ。
The eggs are in the fridge, so you don’t need to buy any.
*Since the eggs are already available and buying more is unnecessary, “なくてもいい” is the correct choice.
