应该yīng gāiought to; should; must

1. 1.

   ought to; should; mustverb

• 应should; ought to; must
• 该should; ought to; must be

应该 is the usual way to say "should"; 要 can also mean "need to / will," so prefer 应该 when you mean advice or obligation rather than a personal want.

1. HSK 1

   你应该去。

   Nǐ yīnggāi qù.

   You should go.

2. HSK 2

   我不应该告诉他。

   Wǒ bù yīnggāi gàosu tā.

   I should not tell him.

3. HSK 1

   他应该喝茶。

   Tā yīnggāi hē chá.

   He should drink tea.

4. HSK 2

   我们不应该笑。

   Wǒmen bù yīnggāi xiào.

   We should not laugh.

要 can mean want, will, or need to. 应该 focuses on what one ought to do. 你应该去 gives advice; 我要去 states a plan or want to go.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   我现在应该做什么？

   Wǒ xiànzài yīnggāi zuò shénme?

   What should I do now?

2. 
   Speaker B:

   你应该去。

   Nǐ yīnggāi qù.

   You should go.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   我应该告诉他吗？

   Wǒ yīnggāi gàosu tā ma?

   Should I tell him?

4. 
   Speaker B:

   不应该告诉他。

   Bù yīnggāi gàosu tā.

   You should not tell him.

5. 
   Speaker A:

   那我应该喝茶吗？

   Nà wǒ yīnggāi hē chá ma?

   Then should I drink tea?

6. 
   Speaker B:

   应该。

   Yīnggāi.

   Yes, you should.

1. 1.Fill in the blank: 你___去。

   A应该B应要C该应
2. 2.Which means "I should not tell him"?

   A我不应该告诉他。B我不要该告诉他。C我应不告诉他。
3. 3.Which word best fits advice that someone ought to go?

   A的B应该C和

• Free HSK 3 level testSee which HSK 3.0 level your vocabulary matches.
• HSK 3 word listEvery word at this level, with examples.
• HSK 3.0 guideHow the nine levels and three bands work.

Related words

• 要yàoto want; to need; to ask forHSK 1
• 可以kě yǐcan; may; possible; able toHSK 1
• 需要xū yàoto need; to want; to demand; to requireHSK 3
• 不bùno; not so; (bound form) not; un-HSK 1
• 想xiǎngto desire; to want (to)HSK 1
• 告诉gào suto tell; to inform; to let knowHSK 2

Browse every entry in the Chinese word dictionary.