应该
should; ought to
yīnggāi
What does 应该 mean?
应该 (yīnggāi) is the Chinese modal verb for 'should' or 'ought to' — used to express obligation, expectation, or strong likelihood. It sits before the main verb: 你应该睡觉 ('you should sleep'). Three uses to know: (1) moral or social obligation — 你应该帮她 ('you should help her'); (2) expectation based on rules or schedule — 火车应该八点到 ('the train should arrive at eight'); (3) inference about likelihood — 他应该在家 ('he should be at home / he probably is at home').
Unlike English 'should,' 应该 is not used for polite suggestions in restaurants or stores — for that, use 可以 ('can') or 要不要 ('would you like'). The negative is 不应该 ('shouldn't'). Pronunciation note: in fast speech, the first tone on 应 stays first tone (yīng, not yìng — that reading means 'to respond')
Character breakdown
ought to; should
should; ought to
Memory hook: Two characters that each independently mean 'should' — doubled up for emphasis, like 'must-ought.'
Example sentences
你应该多喝水。
Nǐ yīnggāi duō hē shuǐ.
You should drink more water.
spoken
他应该在家。
Tā yīnggāi zài jiā.
He should be at home.
neutral
我们应该早点儿走。
Wǒmen yīnggāi zǎo diǎnr zǒu.
We should leave a bit earlier.
spoken
你不应该这样说。
Nǐ bù yīnggāi zhèyàng shuō.
You shouldn't talk like that.
neutral
谢谢你！——应该的。
Xièxie nǐ! — Yīnggāi de.
Thank you! — Don't mention it (it's what I should do).
spoken
Common phrases with 应该
Synonyms
Short, casual form of 应该. 你该走了 = 'you should go.' Drops in fast speech and intimate contexts. 应该 is the safe full form for any register.
得 means 'must / have to' — stronger than 应该 and more colloquial. 我得走了 ('I have to go') vs 我应该走了 ('I should go'). Use 得 when there's no choice, 应该 for moral/expected action.
Don't confuse 应该 with
可以 means 'can / may / allowed to' — about possibility or permission. 应该 is about moral or expected behavior. 你可以走 ('you may leave') vs 你应该走 ('you should leave').
要 means 'want to / will / need to' — about desire or future action. 我要回家 ('I want to / will go home') vs 我应该回家 ('I should go home').