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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing obligation with 应该 (yīnggāi)

    Obligation & Necessity

    Structure

    应该 + Verb

    Explanation

    应该 (yīnggāi) means "should" or "ought to" and is used to express obligation, advisability, or expectation. It is placed before a verb to indicate that an action is the right or expected thing to do.

    Examples

    • 你应该多喝水,对身体好。

      Nǐ yīnggāi duō hē shuǐ, duì shēntǐ hǎo.

      You should drink more water; it's good for your health.

    • 天这么晚了,他应该已经到家了。

      Tiān zhème wǎn le, tā yīnggāi yǐjīng dào jiā le.

      It's so late; he should have arrived home by now.

    • 我们应该尊重每一个人的选择。

      Wǒmen yīnggāi zūnzhòng měi yí gè rén de xuǎnzé.

      We should respect everyone's choices.

    • 你应该多喝水,对身体好。

      nǐ yīnggāi duō hē shuǐ, duì shēntǐ hǎo.

      You should drink more water; it's good for your health.

    • 天这么晚了,他应该已经到家了。

      tiān zhème wǎn le, tā yīnggāi yǐjīng dào jiā le.

      It's so late; he should have arrived home by now.

    • 我们应该尊重每一个人的选择。

      wǒmen yīnggāi zūnzhòng měi yī gè rén de xuǎnzé.

      We should respect everyone's choices.

    Expressing obligation with 应该 (yīnggāi) | Chinese Grammar