Chinese word

应该

Pronunciation

Pinyinyīng gāi

Meaning

  • auxiliary verbshould

Example

你应该早点休息。nǐ yīng gāi záo diǎn xiū xī

You should rest earlier.

Illustration for 应该 (should)

More examples

你应该多吃蔬菜。nǐ yīng gāi duō chī shū cài

You should eat more vegetables.

Core concept

A match between what happens and what the situation, rule, or evidence points toward.

Common phrases

  • 应该早点休息yīng gāi záo diǎn xiū xī

    should rest earlier

  • 应该做作业yīng gāi zuò zuò yè

    should do homework

  • 应该去看医生yīng gāi qù kàn yī shēng

    should go see a doctor

Similar words

应当yīng dāng: Shows that an action is expected or right under a rule or situation.
必须bì xū: Shows that an action must happen because it cannot be avoided.
要yào: Shows that an action is needed.

Definition in Chinese

表示在某种情形下某人应当做某事，可以表示建议、义务，也可表示根据线索的推断。biǎo shì zài móu zhǒng qíng xíng xià mǒu rén yīng dāng zuò mǒu shì ké yǐ biǎo shì jiàn yì yì wù yě kě biǎo shì gēn jù xiàn suǒ de tuī duàn

Word origin

应该 (yīnggāi, "should") combines 应 (yīng, "ought") + 该 (gāi, "be due or appropriate"), giving the sense that an action fits what a situation calls for.

Usage tips

  • In 应该 (yīnggāi, "should"), the word usually comes before the action word, and the person can be left out when the context already makes that clear.

Other meanings

  • be expected toauxiliary verb
  • be right toauxiliary verb

Opposites

  • 不应该bù yīng gāishould notauxiliary verb

Word lists with this word