应该 (yīnggāi) translates to the English word "should," and is an
essential word to know for your conversaitonal Chinese. You *should*
definitely get comfortable using 应该 (yīnggāi) right away!

Basic Usage
-----------

### Structure

The [auxiliary verb](auxiliary_verb "wikilink") 应该 (yīnggāi) is the
most common way to express "should" in Chinese. The structure is:

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 应该 + Verb + Obj.

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   在 中国， 你 <em>应该</em> 喝 白酒。 <span class="pinyin">Zài
    Zhōngguó, nǐ <em>yīnggāi</em> hē
    báijiǔ.</span><span class="trans">In China, you should drink
    baijiu.</span>
-   我 <em>应该</em> 给 你 多少 钱？<span class="pinyin">Wǒ
    <em>yīnggāi</em> gěi nǐ duōshao qián? </span><span class="trans">How
    much money should I give you? </span>
-   感冒 的 时候 <em>应该</em> 喝 热水。 <span class="pinyin">Gǎnmào de
    shíhou <em>yīnggāi</em> hē rè shuǐ.</span><span class="trans">You
    should drink hot water when you have a cold.</span>
-   明天 你 <em>应该</em> 八 点 半 来 公司。
    <span class="pinyin">Míngtiān nǐ <em>yīnggāi</em> bādiǎn bàn lái
    gōngsī.</span><span class="trans">You should come to the office
    tomorrow at 8:30.</span>
-   他 太 累 了，<em>应该</em> 回家 休息。<span class="pinyin">Tā tài
    lèi le, <em>yīnggāi</em> huíjiā
    xiūxi.</span><span class="trans">He's too tired. He should go home
    and rest.</span>

</div>
Negate 应该 (yīnggāi) with 不 (bù)
----------------------------------

### Structure

Add the [negative adverb 不](Standard_negation_with_"bu" "wikilink")
(bù) before 应该 (yīnggāi) to negate it.

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 不 + 应该 + Verb + Obj.

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   你 <em>不 应该</em> 告诉 他。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>bù
    yīnggāi</em> gàosu tā.</span><span class="trans">You should not tell
    him.</span>
-   他 <em>不 应该</em> 打 人。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>bù
    yīnggāi</em> dǎ rén.</span><span class="trans">He should not hit
    people.</span>
-   我们 <em>不 应该</em> 迟到。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>bù
    yīnggāi</em> chídào.</span><span class="trans">We shouldn't be
    late.</span>
-   你们 <em>不 应该</em> 笑 她。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>bù
    yīnggāi</em> xiào tā.</span><span class="trans">You shouldn't laugh
    at her.</span>
-   你们 <em>不 应该</em> 拿 别人 的 东西。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen
    <em>bù yīnggāi</em> ná biérén de
    dōngxi.</span><span class="trans">You should not take other people's
    stuff.</span>

</div>
See Also
--------

-   ["Must" modal "dei"]("Must"_modal_"dei" "wikilink")
-   ["Would like to" with xiang]("Would_like_to"_with_xiang "wikilink")
-   [Wanting to do something with
    yao](Wanting_to_do_something_with_yao "wikilink")

Sources and further reading
---------------------------

### Books

-   [New Practical Chinese Reader
    1 (新实用汉语课本1)](New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_1_(新实用汉语课本1) "wikilink") (pp.
    160-1)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401)
-   [New Practical Chinese Reader 1
    (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)](New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_1_(新实用汉语课本1)(2nd_ed) "wikilink") (pp.
    185-7)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561926235/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7561926235)

[Category:A2 grammar points](Category:A2_grammar_points "wikilink")