Chinese verb · modal · first needed at elementary level (A2)
应该
yīnggāi
should
Gives advice or says what is right ( (nǐ yīnggāi xiūxi)). It also means “should be, probably” when you guess ( (tā yīnggāi dào le), he should be there by now). The negative is (bù yīnggāi).
Speed:
Basic
基本
Advice and what is right to do.
| affirmative | 你应该多休息。Nǐ yīnggāi duō xiūxi. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 你不应该喝这么多酒。Nǐ bù yīnggāi hē zhème duō jiǔ. | |
| question | 我应该去吗？Wǒ yīnggāi qù ma? |
Completed
了
应该…了: a guess that something has probably happened.
| affirmative | 他应该到了。Tā yīnggāi dào le. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 他应该还没到。Tā yīnggāi hái méi dào. | |
| question | 他应该到了吧？Tā yīnggāi dào le ba? |
Experience
过
应该…过: a guess about what someone has done before.
| affirmative | 他应该去过北京。Tā yīnggāi qùguo Běijīng. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 他应该没去过北京。Tā yīnggāi méi qùguo Běijīng. | |
| question | 他应该去过北京吧？Tā yīnggāi qùguo Běijīng ba? |
Future and intention
要 / 会
: a guess that something will probably happen.
| affirmative | 他应该会来。Tā yīnggāi huì lái. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 他应该不会来。Tā yīnggāi bú huì lái. | |
| question | 他应该会来吧？Tā yīnggāi huì lái ba? |
Examples
- 你应该早一点儿睡觉。Nǐ yīnggāi zǎo yìdiǎnr shuìjiào.You should go to bed a bit earlier.
- 这个时候他应该在家。Zhège shíhou tā yīnggāi zài jiā.He should be at home at this time.
- 我觉得你不应该告诉他。Wǒ juéde nǐ bù yīnggāi gàosu tā.I don't think you should tell him.