no tenías que

you didn't have to; you shouldn't have

→ no

phrase Rare #27,633

you didn't have to; you shouldn't have Used with an infinitive. Depending on context, it can express that something was unnecessary or that someone should not have done something, often with a tone of reproach or regret.

SP: No tenías que comprarme nada.

EN: You didn't have to buy me anything.

No tenías que venir a la oficina hoy.

You didn't have to come to the office today.

No tenías que haber revelado el secreto.

You shouldn't have revealed the secret.

No tenías que hacerlo.

You didn't have to do it.

— Todo a la vez en todas partes (2022)

Gracias, no tenías que haberte molestado.

Thank you, you didn't have to bother.

— Tesis (1996)

No tenías que hacer eso allá atrás.

You didn't have to do that back there.

— The Running Man (2025)

No tenías que tomar un taxi.

You didn't have to take a taxi.

No tenías que hacer esto.

You didn't have to do this.

No tenías que haber te molestado.

You shouldn't have gone to all that trouble.

— Volver (2006)

No tenías que ir allí.

You weren’t supposed to go there.

No tenías que acabar temprano.

You didn't have to finish early.

No tenías que hacer eso.

You didn't have to do that.