”Should“ in Chinese

Grammar Point:
In Chinese grammar, the term 應該应该 yīnggāi is used to express “should” or “ought to” in a general sense. It indicates what is considered the proper or expected course of action.

Structure

S + 應該应该 + V + O

The term 應該应该 yīnggāi can be shortened to just 該该 gāi while still conveying a similar meaning. The shortened form 該该 gāi is more commonly used in written Chinese or formal contexts, whereas 應該应该 yīnggāi is more commonly used in spoken language.

你nǐ應該yīnggāi知道zhīdào我wǒ不bù喜歡xǐhuān你nǐ吧ba你nǐ应该yīnggāi知道zhīdào我wǒ不bù喜欢xǐhuan你nǐ吧ba
You should know that I don’t like you.

我們wǒmen應該yīnggāi少shǎo吃chī垃圾lèsè食物shíwù我们wǒmen应该yīnggāi少shǎo吃chī垃圾lājī食品shípǐn
We should eat less junk food.

你nǐ看起來kànqǐlái快kuài死sǐ了le， 真的zhēnde應該yīnggāi去qù看kàn醫生yīshēng你nǐ看起来kànqǐlái快kuài死sǐ了le， 真的zhēnde应该yīnggāi去qù看kàn医生yīshēng
YYou look like you’re about to die. You really should go see a doctor.

孩子háizi該gāi多duō運動yùndòng孩子háizi该gāi多duō运动yùndòng
Children should engage in more physical activity.

Negation

To form the negative form of 應該应该 yīnggāi, you can add 不 bù before 應該应该 yīnggāi.

你nǐ不bù應該yīnggāi答應dāyìng他tā你nǐ不bù应该yīnggāi答应dāyìng他tā
You shouldn’t have agreed to him.

她tā不bù應該yīnggāi遲到chídào她tā不bù应该yīnggāi迟到chídào
She shouldn’t be late.

孩子háizi不bù該gāi晚上wǎnshàng剪jiǎn指甲zhǐjiǎ孩子háizi不bù该gāi晚上wǎnshang剪jiǎn指甲zhǐjiǎ
Children shouldn’t cut their nails at night.

FYI
In Chinese culture, there is a belief or superstition that cutting nails at night is considered unlucky or inauspicious.
According to Feng Shui, it is strongly advised not to cut a child’s nails at night if they haven’t reached the age of 12 or completed a full cycle of the Chinese zodiac signs. It is believed that doing so can easily result in the loss of the child’s spiritual essence or vitality. Similarly, it is generally recommended for adults to avoid cutting their nails late at night as well. It is believed that doing so may affect emotions, health, or even invite financial loss. This caution is especially emphasized after 11 p.m….but who cuts their nails at midnight.🙄

Question

他tā應該yīnggāi怎麼zěnme回答huídá這zhè個ge問題wèntí？ 他tā应该yīnggāi怎么zěnme回答huídá这zhè个ge问题wèntí？
How should he answer this question?

我wǒ應yīng不bù應該yīnggāi放棄fàngqì學xué中文zhōngwén？ 我wǒ应yīng不bù应该yīnggāi放弃fàngqì学xué中文zhōngwén？
Should I give up learning Chinese?

這個zhège的de中文zhōngwén應該yīnggāi怎麼zěnme說shuō？ 这个zhège的de中文zhōngwén应该yīnggāi怎么zěnme说shuō？
How should I say this in Chinese?
(How do you say this in Chinese?)

我wǒ該gāi休息xiūxí一天yìtiān嗎ma？ 我wǒ该gāi休息xiūxi一天yìtiān吗ma？
Should I take a day off?

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ You should click on an ad and then watch it for 30 seconds.

你nǐ應該yīnggāi點diǎn一個yíge廣告guǎnggào， 然後ránhòu看kàn30 秒miǎo你nǐ应该yīnggāi点diǎn一个yíge广告guǎnggào， 然后ránhòu看kàn30 秒miǎo

✔️ So I should be able to receive $0.01 from google ad.

這樣zhèyàng我wǒ應該yīnggāi可以kěyǐ從cónggoogle ad 收shōu到dào0.01 塊kuài美金měijīn这样zhèyàng我wǒ应该yīnggāi可以kěyǐ从cónggoogle ad 收shōu到dào0.01 块kuài美金měijīn

✔️ I shouldn’t be making money from this, but…

我wǒ不bù應該yīnggāi靠kào這個zhège賺錢zhuànqián， 但是dànshì…我wǒ不bù应该yīnggāi靠kào这个zhège挣钱zhèngqián， 但是dànshì…