Expressing obligations

The following structures used to express obligations in Chinese are organized according to our grammar points by level.


A2 Expressing obligations

Grammar Point (English) Pattern Examples
Expressing "should" with "yinggai" 应该 / 该 + Verb 应该 工作。

B1 Expressing obligations

Grammar Point (English) Pattern Examples
Expressing "had better" with "haishi" 还是 + Verb 我们 还是 先 吃饭 吧。
Expressing "must" with "dei" 得 + Verb 我们 走 了 。

B2 Expressing obligations

Grammar Point (English) Pattern Examples
Expressing "have to" with "budebu" Subj. + 不得不 + Verb 老板 很 讨厌 应酬,但是 她 不得不 去。

C1 Expressing obligations

Grammar Point (English) Pattern Examples
Adding emphasis with "fei....buke" Subj. + 非(要) + Verb Phrase (+ 不可) 学 好 汉语 不可
Expressing “must" with "feidei" 非得 + Action + 不可/不行/不成 现在 是 紧急 情况,医生 非得 马上 开 刀 不可