该
gāi
Should; this
该 (gāi) — it's time to
该 (gāi) + Verb + 了 (le)
HSK 33.0
Pattern diagram
Who / what该Action了
Rule structure
The pattern 该 (gāi) + verb/situation + 了 (le) means "it is time to do something" or "it's time." Here 了 (le) marks that the appropriate moment has arrived, not that the action is completed. The pattern is often used as a gentle reminder or prompt to act.
Rule structure
The pattern 该 (gāi) + verb/situation + 了 (le) means "it is time to do something" or "it's time." Here 了 (le) marks that the appropriate moment has arrived, not that the action is completed. The pattern is often used as a gentle reminder or prompt to act.
Examples
时间不早了，我们该回家了。
Shíjiān bù zǎo le, wǒmen gāi huí jiā le.
It's getting late; it's time for us to go home.
你该睡觉了。
Nǐ gāi shuìjiào le.
It's time for you to go to bed.
Examples
时间不早了，我们该回家了。
Shíjiān bù zǎo le, wǒmen gāi huí jiā le.
It's getting late; it's time for us to go home.
你该睡觉了。
Nǐ gāi shuìjiào le.
It's time for you to go to bed.
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Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “it's time to” in Chinese with 该?
Use the structure: 该 (gāi) + Verb + 了 (le). For example: 时间不早了，我们该回家了。 — “It's getting late; it's time for us to go home”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
时间不早了，我们该回家了。 — “It's getting late; it's time for us to go home”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.0 Level 3.
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More HSK 3.0 Level 3 grammar rules
不一会儿 — soon afterwards
不一会儿 (bù yíhuìr) + Subject + (就 (jiù)) + Verb + 了 (le)
不怎么样 — not so good, so-so
Subj. + 不怎么样 (bù zěnmeyàng)
不 — neither… nor… pattern
不 (bù) + A + 不 (bù) + B
不是……吗？ — rhetorical questions
不 (bù) 是 (shì)…… 吗 (ma)？
极了 — extremely, very
Adj. + 极了 (jí le)
得很 — very, extremely
Adj. + 得很 (de hěn)
先 — first… then…
先 (xiān)……, 再 (zài)……
一边 — doing two things at once
一边 (yìbiān) + Verb 1, 一边 (yìbiān) + Verb 2