Expressing "should" with "yinggai"

Level

A2 / HSK3
Level

A2
Level

HSK3
Similar to
Similar to
- Expressing "would like to" with "xiang" (HSK1)
- Wanting to do something with "yao" (HSK2)
- Expressing "had better" with "haishi" (HSK4)
- Expressing "had better" with "zuihao" (HSK4)
- Expressing "must" with "dei" (HSK4)
Used for

Expressing obligations
Keywords

应该, 该

应该 (yīnggāi) translates to the English word "should," and is an essential word to know for your conversational Chinese. You should definitely get comfortable using 应该 (yīnggāi) right away!

Basic Usage

Structure

The auxiliary verb 应该 (yīnggāi) is the most common way to express "should" in Chinese. The structure is:

Subj. + 应该 + Verb + Obj.

Examples

在中国，你应该喝白酒。 Zài Zhōngguó, nǐ yīnggāi hē báijiǔ.In China, you should drink baijiu.
我应该给你多少钱？Wǒ yīnggāi gěi nǐ duōshao qián? How much money should I give you?
感冒的时候应该喝热水。 Gǎnmào de shíhou yīnggāi hē rè shuǐ.You should drink hot water when you have a cold.
明天你应该八点半来公司。 Míngtiān nǐ yīnggāi bādiǎn bàn lái gōngsī.You should come to the office tomorrow at 8:30.
他太累了，应该回家休息。Tā tài lèi le, yīnggāi huíjiā xiūxi.He's too tired. He should go home and rest.

Negate 应该 (yīnggāi) with 不 (bù)

Structure

Add the negative adverb 不 (bù) before 应该 (yīnggāi) to negate it.

Subj. + 不 + 应该 + Verb + Obj.

Examples

你 不应该 告诉他。 Nǐ bù yīnggāi gàosu tā.You should not tell him.
他 不应该 打人。Tā bù yīnggāi dǎ rén.He should not hit people.
我们 不应该 迟到。Wǒmen bù yīnggāi chídào.We shouldn't be late.
你们 不应该 笑她。Nǐmen bù yīnggāi xiào tā.You shouldn't laugh at her.
你们 不应该 拿别人的东西。Nǐmen bù yīnggāi ná biérén de dōngxi.You should not take other people's stuff.

Sources and further reading

Books

Expressing "should" with "yinggai"

Contents

Basic Usage

Structure

Examples

Negate 应该 (yīnggāi) with 不 (bù)

Structure

Examples

See Also

Sources and further reading

Books