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How to say “should” in Chinese with 应该 (yīnggāi)

应该 (yīnggāi)/该 (gāi) + Verb

Expressing "should" with "应该 (yīng gāi) (yīnggāi)"

HSK 3Auxiliary verbs

Rule structure

应该 (yīng gāi) (yīnggāi) is a modal verb meaning "should" or "ought to," expressing duty, advice, or a high probability.

Examples

你应该早点儿睡觉。

Nǐ yīnggāi zǎo diǎnr shuìjiào.

You should go to bed earlier.

Practice

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Frequently asked questions

How do you express “Expressing "should" with "应该 (yīnggāi)"” in Chinese?

Use the structure: 应该 (yīnggāi)/该 (gāi) + Verb. For example: 你应该早点儿睡觉。 — “You should go to bed earlier.”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

你应该早点儿睡觉。 — “You should go to bed earlier.”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.

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