Chinese word

最好

Pronunciation

Pinyinzuì hǎo

Meaning

  • adverbshould

Example

你最好早点睡。nǐ zuì hǎo záo diǎn shuì

You should go to bed early.

Illustration for 最好 (should)

More examples

上课要开始了，你最好别迟到。shàng kè yào kāi shǐ le nǐ zuì hǎo bié chí dào

Class is about to start, so you shouldn't be late.

Core concept

Sets a preferred choice at the highest level, then lets that preference guide a decision or a piece of advice.

Common phrases

  • 最好 别迟到zuì hǎo bié chí dào

    shouldn't be late

  • 最好 早点睡zuì hǎo záo diǎn shuì

    should go to bed early

Similar words

应该yīng gāi: Suggests that an action should be taken because it is proper or reasonable.
要yào: Expresses the need to take an action.

Definition in Chinese

表示在多种选择中某一项最合适或最有利，常用于对他人提出强烈的建议，常见结构为“最好＋动词”或“最好别＋动词”。biǎo shì zài duō zhǒng xuǎn zé zhōng mǒu yí xiàng zuì hé shì huò zuì yǒu lì cháng yòng yú duì tā rén tí chū qiáng liè de jiàn yì cháng jiàn jié gòu wèi zuì hǎo dòng cí huò zuì hǎo bié dòng cí

Word origin

最好 (zuìhǎo, "best") combines the superlative marker 最 (zuì, "most") with 好 (hǎo, "good"), which explains both its ranking sense and its use for saying which action is preferable.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may expect a top-ranking word to compare clear choices, but Chinese often uses 最好 (zuìhǎo, "best") for everyday advice even when no list of choices is stated.

Other meanings

  • bestadjective
  • preferablyadverb

Word lists with this word