食べないと

have to eat, if you don't eat

→ 食べる

phrase Uncommon #10,150

have to eat Often used at the end of a sentence as a shortened form of 食べないといけない or 食べないとだめ, meaning that someone must eat. Literally, it means “if [someone] doesn’t eat,” with the consequence left unstated.

JA: もう遅いから、食べないと。

EN: It's getting late, so I have to eat.

食べないと。

I have to eat.

リヤド少しは食べないと

Riyadh, you need to eat at least a little.

— 預言者 (2009)

たとえこれが好きでなくても、食べないといけませんよ。

Even if you don't like this, you have to eat it.

食べないと奥様がガッカリする違います？

Won’t your wife be disappointed if you don’t eat it?

— 花様年華 (2000)

食べないと

You have to eat.

— 鶴は翔んでゆく (1957)

早く食べないと。

I need to eat quickly.

朝ごはんは食べないと。

I need to eat breakfast.

強く大きくなるためには、ちゃんとご飯を食べないとだめですよ。

You need to eat properly if you want to grow up big and strong.

phrase Rare #39,364

if you don't eat Often used with an implied consequence, warning, or necessity: “if you don't eat, ...” or “you have to eat.”

JA: 食べないと元気が出ないよ。

EN: If you don't eat, you won't have any energy.

早く食べないと学校に遅れちゃうよ。

Hurry up and eat, or you'll be late for school.

少し食べないと熱いよ

You’d better eat a little, or it’ll get hot.

— イップ・マン序章 (2008)

食べないとチリに行けないぞ

If you don't eat, you can't go to Chile.

— 雪山の絆 (2023)

全部食べないとデザート抜きですよ。

If you don't finish everything, no dessert.