Expressing "should" with "yinggai"
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Keywords
One of the words that definitely "should" be learned by any Chinese learner is the word 应该 (yīnggāi).
Contents
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 + Verb + Object
Examples
- 我 应该 喝 点 水。I should drink a little water.
- 你 应该 告诉 我。You should tell me.
- 他 应该 去 看 医生。He should go to 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。He should use his 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 + Verb + Object
Examples
- 你 不 应该 告诉 他。You should not tell him.
- 他 不 应该 吃 那么 多。He should not eat so much.
- 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 用 父母 的 钱。You should not use your parent's money.
- 我 不 应该 去 那里。I should not go there.
- 好 女孩 不 应该 喝 酒。A good girl shouldn't drink alcohol.
- 你 不 应该 给 你 的 狗 巧克力。You should not give your dog chocolate.
- 你 不 应该 这么 早 走。You shouldn't leave so early.
- 你 不 应该 吃 冰淇淋。You shouldn't eat ice cream.
See Also
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
