How to say “had better” in Chinese with 还是 (háishi)
Subj. + 还是 (háishi) + Verb Phrase (+ 吧 (ba))
Expressing "had better" with "还是 (háishi)"
Subj. + 还是 (háishi) + Verb Phrase (+ 吧 (ba))
HSK 4AdverbsExpressing "had better" with "还是 (háishi)"
Rule structure
还是 (háishi) in suggestions means "had better". It implies a choice after consideration and often softens with 吧 (ba).
Rule structure
还是 (háishi) in suggestions means "had better". It implies a choice after consideration and often softens with 吧 (ba).
Examples
天黑了，你还是回家吧。
Tiān hēi le, nǐ háishì huí jiā ba.
It's dark, you'd better go home.
Examples
天黑了，你还是回家吧。
Tiān hēi le, nǐ háishì huí jiā ba.
It's dark, you'd better go home.
Build the sentence
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Frequently asked questions
How do you express “Expressing "had better" with "还是 (háishi)"” in Chinese?
Use the structure: Subj. + 还是 (háishi) + Verb Phrase (+ 吧 (ba)). For example: 天黑了，你还是回家吧。 — “It's dark, you'd better go home.”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
天黑了，你还是回家吧。 — “It's dark, you'd better go home.”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 4.
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More HSK 4 grammar rules
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