Chinese word

该

Pronunciation

Pinyingāi

Meaning

  • auxiliary verbshould

Example

该早点睡觉。gāi záo diǎn shuì jiào

You should go to bed early.

Illustration for 该 (should)

More examples

现在该去超市买东西了。xiàn zài gāi qù chāo shì mǎi dōng xī le

Now we should go to the supermarket to buy things.

Core concept

Points to what is due or fitting: an action whose time has arrived, or a thing already identified in the situation.

Common phrases

  • 该回家了gāi huí jiā le

    should go home

  • 该打电话给他gāi dǎ diàn huà gěi tā

    should call him

  • 该学习中文gāi xué xí zhōng wén

    should study Chinese

  • 该买票了gāi mǎi piào le

    should buy a ticket

Similar words

应该yīng gāi: Says that an action ought to happen because it is sensible, expected, or right.
必须bì xū: Requires an action because of a duty or situation that cannot be avoided.
要yào: Indicates a need to carry out an action for a particular purpose or situation.

Definition in Chinese

用于表示某事应当发生或现在是做某事的时候，侧重指出时机或应尽的责任。yòng yú biǎo shì mǒu shì yīng dāng fā shēng huò xiàn zài shì zuò mǒu shì de shí hòu cè zhòng zhǐ chū shí jī huò yīng jǐn de zé rèn

Word origin

该 (gāi, "be due") comes from 該 (gāi, "be fitting"), whose older sense of fitting or matching connects the word with both a due action and an identified person or thing.

Usage tips

  • In a daily routine, this word can mark the next expected step, such as bedtime, without making the sentence sound angry.

Other meanings

  • thatpronoun
  • it is time toadverb

Opposites

  • 不该bù gāishould notauxiliary verb

Word lists with this word