Had Better with zuihao

Grammar Point:
One way to express ‘had better’ in Chinese is 最好 zuìhǎo. While 最好 zuìhǎo can function as an adjective meaning ‘best’, it can also be used as an adverb to express ‘had better’ or ‘it would be best’. It’s often utilized when giving advice to someone or politely making demands.

Structure

S + 最好 + Suggestion

天氣tiānqì冷lěng了le， 你nǐ最好zuìhǎo多duō穿chuān一點yìdiǎn天气tiānqì冷lěng了le， 你nǐ最好zuìhǎo多duō穿chuān一点yìdiǎn
It’s getting cold. You’d better wear more.

下雨xiàyǔ了le， 我們wǒmen最好zuìhǎo做zuò室內shìnèi活動huódòng下雨xiàyǔ了le， 我们wǒmen最好zuìhǎo做zuò室内shìnèi活动huódòng
It’s raining. We’d better do indoor activities.

你nǐ最好zuìhǎo現在xiànzài開始kāishǐ準備zhǔnbèiHSK3.0 你nǐ最好zuìhǎo现在xiànzài开始kāishǐ准备zhǔnbèiHSK3.0
You better start preparing for HSK3.0 now!

你nǐ最好zuìhǎo聽tīng我的wǒde話huà， 把bǎ錢qián都dōu給gěi我wǒ你nǐ最好zuìhǎo听tīng我的wǒde话huà， 把bǎ钱qián都dōu给gěi我wǒ
You’d better listen to me and give me all your money.

你nǐ最好zuìhǎo多duō帶dài一點yìdiǎn錢qián， 那nà家jiā餐廳cāntīng超chāo貴guì！ 你nǐ最好zuìhǎo多duō带dài一点儿yìdiǎnr钱qián， 那nà家jiā饭馆儿fànguǎnr特tè贵guì！
You’d better bring more money. That restaurant is super expensive!

他tā最好zuìhǎo馬上mǎshàng來lái跟gēn我wǒ道歉dàoqiàn他tā最好zuìhǎo马上mǎshàng来lái跟gēn我wǒ道歉dàoqiàn
He’d better come and apologize to me right away.

Negation

S + 最好 + 別/不要 + Suggestion

你nǐ最好zuìhǎo不要búyào有yǒu這樣zhèyàng可怕kěpà的de想法xiǎngfǎ你nǐ最好zuìhǎo不要búyào有yǒu这样zhèyáng可怕kěpà的de想法xiǎngfǎ
You’d better not have such a terrible idea.

明天míngtiān的de派對pàiduì， 最好zuìhǎo別bié喝hē太tài多duō紅酒hóngjiǔ明天míngtiān的de派对pàiduì， 最好zuìhǎo别bié喝hē太tài多duō红酒hóngjiǔ
Better not drink too much red wine at tomorrow’s party.

你nǐ最好zuìhǎo别bié把bǎ我的wǒde話huà當dāng耳邊風ěrbiānfēng你nǐ最好zuìhǎo别bié把bǎ我的wǒde话huà当dāng耳边风ěrbiānfēng
ou’d better not let my words go in one ear and out the other.

FYI
耳邊風耳边风 ěrbiān fēng is a Chinese slang that literally means “wind blowing by the ear”. It’s used to describe a situation where someone hears what you say but doesn’t really listen or take it seriously. It’s like the words you said just passed by their ears like a breeze, and didn’t really make an impact.

你nǐ最好zuìhǎo別bié吃chī太tài辣là， 不然bùrán晚上wǎnshàng又yòu要yào抱bào馬桶mǎtǒng你nǐ最好zuìhǎo别bié吃chī太tài辣là， 不然bùrán晚上wǎnshang又yòu要yào抱bào马桶mǎtǒng
You’d better not eat too spicy, or you’ll have to hug the toilet again at night.

你nǐ最好zuìhǎo不要búyào去qù那nà家jiā店diàn買mǎi東西dōngxī， 他們tāmen都dōu把bǎ客人kèrén當dāng肥羊féiyáng你nǐ最好zuìhǎo不要búyào去qù那nà家jiā店diàn买mǎi东西dōngxi， 他们tāmen都dōu把bǎ客人kèrén当dāng肥羊féiyáng
You had better not go to that store to buy anything, they treat their customers as cash cows.

FYI
In Chinese, 肥羊 féiyáng is often used to refer to someone who is naive, easily taken advantage of, and has a lot of money or resources. The literal translation of the term is “fat sheep,” which can be a bit harsh. However, in the context of the slang, it is more of a playful or joking term used among friends.

• Had better in Chinese with 還还是 háishì (HSK 2)