Difference between revisions of "Expressing "had better" with "zuihao""

 
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Sure, 最好 (zuìhǎo) means "best." But it can also be used to mean "it would be best to" or "had better." It is often used when giving advice to someone or even politely making demands.
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== Positive Form ==
 
== Positive Form ==
  
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*你 <em>最好</em> 先 休息 一下 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zuìhǎo</em> xiān xiūxi yīxià.</span><span class="trans">You'd better get some rest first.</span>
 
*你 <em>最好</em> 先 休息 一下 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zuìhǎo</em> xiān xiūxi yīxià.</span><span class="trans">You'd better get some rest first.</span>
*你们 <em>最好</em> 给 他 打 个 电话 问 一下 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>zuìhǎo</em> gěi tā dǎ gè diànhuà wèn yīxià.</span><span class="trans">You'd better call and ask him.</span>
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*你们 <em>最好</em> 给 他 打 个 电话 问 一下 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>zuìhǎo</em> gěi tā dǎ gè diànhuà wèn yīxià.</span><span class="trans">It would be best for you to give him a call and ask.</span>
*那个 地方 不 好 找 ,我们 <em>最好</em> 查 一下 百度 地图 。<span class="pinyin">Nàge dìfang bù hǎo zhǎo, wǒmen <em>zuìhǎo</em> chá yīxià Bǎidù dìtú.</span><span class="trans">It's not easy to find that place. We'd better search it on Baidu Maps.</span>
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*那个 地方 不 好 找 ,我们 <em>最好</em> 查 一下 百度 地图 。<span class="pinyin">Nàge dìfang bù hǎo zhǎo, wǒmen <em>zuìhǎo</em> chá yīxià Bǎidù dìtú.</span><span class="trans">It's not easy to find that place. We'd better search for it on Baidu Maps.</span>
*外面 挺 冷 的,<em>最好</em> 多 穿 点 。<span class="pinyin">Wàimiàn tǐng lěng de, <em>zuìhǎo</em> duō chuān diǎn.</span><span class="trans">It's pretty cold outside. You'd better wear some more layers.</span>
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*外面 挺 冷 的,<em>最好</em> 多 穿 点 。<span class="pinyin">Wàimiàn tǐng lěng de, <em>zuìhǎo</em> duō chuān diǎn.</span><span class="trans">It's pretty cold outside. Best to wear some more layers.</span>
 
*这个 活动 很 重要,我们 <em>最好</em> 穿 得 正式 一点 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège huódòng hěn zhòngyào, wǒmen <em>zuìhǎo</em> chuān de zhèngshì yīdiǎn.</span><span class="trans">This is an important event. We'd better wear something more formal.</span>
 
*这个 活动 很 重要,我们 <em>最好</em> 穿 得 正式 一点 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège huódòng hěn zhòngyào, wǒmen <em>zuìhǎo</em> chuān de zhèngshì yīdiǎn.</span><span class="trans">This is an important event. We'd better wear something more formal.</span>
  
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*<em>最好</em> 别 去 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zuìhǎo</em> bié qù.</span><span class="trans">You'd better not go.</span>
 
*<em>最好</em> 别 去 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zuìhǎo</em> bié qù.</span><span class="trans">You'd better not go.</span>
*<em>最好</em> 不要 这样 说 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zuìhǎo</em> bùyào zhèyàng shuō.</span><span class="trans">You'd better not to say it like that.</span>
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*<em>最好</em> 不要 这样 说 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zuìhǎo</em> bùyào zhèyàng shuō.</span><span class="trans">It's best not to say something like this.</span>
*晚饭 <em>最好</em> 不要 吃 那么 多 。<span class="trans">You'd better not eat so much for dinner.</span>
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*晚饭 <em>最好</em> 不要 吃 那么 多 。<span class="pinyin">Wǎnfàn <em>zuìhǎo</em> bùyào chī nàme duō.</span><span class="trans">It's best not to eat so much for dinner.</span>
*雨 这么 大 ,<em>最好</em> 别 出门 。<span class="pinyin">Yǔ zhème dà, <em>zuìhǎo</em> bié chūmén.</span><span class="trans">It is raining so heavily. You'd better not leave the house.</span>
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*雨 这么 大 ,<em>最好</em> 别 出门 。<span class="pinyin">Yǔ zhème dà, <em>zuìhǎo</em> bié chūmén.</span><span class="trans">It's raining so heavily. It's best not to leave the house.</span>
*这个 问题 是 隐私 <em>最好</em> 不要 问 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège wèntí shì yǐnsī, <em> zuìhǎo</em> bùyào wèn.</span><span class="trans">This question is private. We'd better not ask.</span>
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*这个 问题 是 隐私 的,<em>最好</em> 不要 问 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège wèntí shì yǐnsī de, <em> zuìhǎo</em> bùyào wèn.</span><span class="trans">This question is private. You'd better not ask.</span>
  
 
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[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK4}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|最好|B1|Subj. + 最好 + Predicate|你 <em>最好</em> 先 休息 一下 。|grammar point|ASG35CD7}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|最好|B1|Subj. + 最好 + Predicate|你 <em>最好</em> 先 休息 一下 。|grammar point|ASG35CD7}}
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{{Rel char|好}}
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{{Rel char|最}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing "should" with "yinggai"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing "should" with "yinggai"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing "had better" with "haishi"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing "had better" with "haishi"}}

Latest revision as of 01:02, 18 December 2019

Sure, 最好 (zuìhǎo) means "best." But it can also be used to mean "it would be best to" or "had better." It is often used when giving advice to someone or even politely making demands.

Positive Form

Structure

Subj. + 最好 + Predicate

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

Examples

  • 最好 先 休息 一下 。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.It would be best for you to give him a call and ask.
  • 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 for 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. Best to 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.It's best not to say something like this.
  • 晚饭 最好 不要 吃 那么 多 。Wǎnfàn zuìhǎo bùyào chī nàme duō.It's best not to eat so much for dinner.
  • 雨 这么 大 ,最好 别 出门 。Yǔ zhème dà, zuìhǎo bié chūmén.It's raining so heavily. It's best not to leave the house.
  • 这个 问题 是 隐私 的,最好 不要 问 。Zhège wèntí shì yǐnsī de, zuìhǎo bùyào wèn.This question is private. You'd better not ask.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books