Expressing "should" with "yinggai"

应该 (yīnggāi) translates to the English word "should," and is an essential word to know for your conversaitonal 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 white liquor.
• 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.

Making It Negative

Structure

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

Subj. + 不 + 应该 + Verb + Obj.

Examples

• 你 不 应该 告诉 他。 Nǐ bù yīnggāi gàosù tā. You should not tell him.
• 他 不 应该 喝 那么 多 酒。Tā bù yīnggāi hē nàme duō jiǔ. He should not drink so much.
• 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.
• 小孩 不 应该 喝 酒。Xiǎohái bù yīnggāi hē jiǔ. A kid shouldn't drink alcohol.
• 你们 不 应该 这么 晚 回家。Nǐmen bù yīnggāi zhème wǎn huí jiā. You shouldn't come home so late.

See Also

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

Sources and further reading

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