Expressing "had better" with "zuihao"

One of the ways to use 最好 (zuìhǎo) is to have it mean "had better."

Positive Form

Structure

Subj. + 最好 + Predicate

The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.

Examples

• 你 最好 先 休息 一下 。Nǐ zuìhǎo xiān xiūxi yīxià.You'd better get some rest first.
• 你们 最好 给 他 打 个 电话 问 一下 。Nǐmen zuìhǎo gěi tā dǎ gè diànhuà wèn yīxià.You'd better call and ask him.
• 那个 地方 不 好 找 ，我们 最好 查 一下 百度 地图 。Nàge dìfang bù hǎo zhǎo, wǒmen zuìhǎo chá yīxià Bǎidù dìtú.It's not easy to find that place. We'd better search it on Baidu Maps.
• 外面 挺 冷 的，最好 多 穿 点 。Wàimiàn tǐng lěng de, zuìhǎo duō chuān diǎn.It's pretty cold outside. You'd better wear some more layers.
• 这个 活动 很 重要，我们 最好 穿 得 正式 一点 。Zhège huódòng hěn zhòngyào, wǒmen zuìhǎo chuān de zhèngshì yīdiǎn.This is an important event. We'd better wear something more formal.

Negative Form

Structure

Subj. + 最好 + 别 / 不要 + Predicate

Examples

• 最好 别 去 。Zuìhǎo bié qù.You'd better not go.
• 最好 不要 这样 说 。Zuìhǎo bùyào zhèyàng shuō.You'd better not say it like this.
• 晚饭 最好 不要 吃 那么 多 。Wǎnfàn zuìhǎo bùyào chī nàme duō.You'd better not eat so much for dinner.
• 雨 这么 大 ，最好 别 出门 。Yǔ zhème dà, zuìhǎo bié chūmén.It is raining so heavily. You'd better not leave the house.
• 这个 问题 是 隐私 ，最好 不要 问 。Zhège wèntí shì yǐnsī, zuìhǎo bùyào wèn.This question is private. We'd better not ask.

See also

• Expressing "should" with "yinggai"
• Expressing "had better" with "haishi"
• Expressing "must" with "dei"