Expressing "should" with "yinggai"

One of the words that definitely "should" be learned by any Chinese learner is the word 应该 (yīnggāi).

Basic Usage

Structure

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

Subject + 应该 + VO

Examples

• 我 应该 多 学习。I should study more.
• 你 应该 告诉 我。You should tell me.
• 他 应该 看 医生。He should see a doctor.
• 你 应该 多 吃 点。You should eat a little more.
• 你 应该 学 汉语。You should study Chinese.
• 你 应该 看 这 个 电影。You should watch this movie.
• 他 应该 用 自己 的 钱。You should use your own money.
• 在 中国，你 应该 喝 白酒。In China, You should drink white wine.
• 我 应该 说 英文 吗？Should I speak English?
• 我 应该 去 他 家 吗？Should I go to his house?

Making It Negative

Structure

Add the negative adverb 不 before 应该 to negate the structure.

Subject + 不 + 应该 + VO

Examples

• 你 不 应该 告诉 他。You should not tell him.
• 他 不 应该 乱 吃 东西。He should not eat whatever he wants.
• 我们 不 应该 这样 做。We should not do it this way.
• 在这里，你不应该说英文。Here, you should not speak english.
• 你 不 应该 花 父母 的 钱。You should not use your parent's money.
• 我 不 应该 打 孩子。I should not hit kids.
• 好 女孩 不 应该 去 酒吧。A good girl shouldn't drink alcohol.
• 你 不 应该 给 你 的 狗 吃 巧克力。You should not give your dog chocolate.
• 你 不 应该 很 早 离开 公司。You shouldn't leave the company early.
• 生病 的 时候，你 不 应该 吃 冰淇淋。When sick, you shouldn't eat ice cream.

See Also

• "Must" modal "dei"
• "Would like to" with xiang
• Wanting to do something with yao

Books

• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 160-1) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 185-7) →buy