应该 (yīnggāi) - Should/Ought To

In Chinese grammar, 应该 is classified as a modal verb (or auxiliary verb). This means its job is to modify the main verb that follows it. Think of it as a middleman that sits between the person doing the action and the action itself. The beauty of Chinese modal verbs is that they don't change based on the person. You don't have to worry about "shoulds" or "shoulded"—it is always just 应该. It acts like a bridge. On one side, you have the subject, and on the other, you have the activity. 应该 sits right in the center, adding a layer of "this is the right thing to do" or "this is what I expect to happen." It is a very stable structure. Once you learn the spot, you never have to move it around, even when asking questions. It is much more predictable than English word order!

1. 1Using 应该 is as simple as 1-2-3. Here is how you build your sentences:
2. 2For basic statements: Subject + 应该 + Verb + Object.
3. 3Example: 你应该喝水。 (You should drink water.)
4. 4For negative advice: Subject + 不应该 + Verb + Object.
5. 5Example: 你不应该走。 (You shouldn't leave.)
6. 6For "Yes/No" questions: Subject + 应该 + Verb + Object + 吗?
7. 7Example: 我应该去吗？ (Should I go?)
8. 8For the "Should I or shouldn't I" style: Subject + 应不应该 + Verb + Object?
9. 9Example: 我们应不应该买这个？ (Should we buy this or not?)
10. 10Note that in the negative form, 不 always comes before 应该. It is a package deal. Think of it like a grammar traffic light: 应该 is green (go for it), and 不应该 is red (better not).

There are three main scenarios where 应该 shines like a star. First, use it for giving advice or suggestions. If your friend is tired, you tell them they 应该 rest. It is helpful and shows you care. Second, use it for logical expectations. If you know the bus usually arrives at 5:00 PM and it is 4:55 PM, you can say the bus 应该 be here soon. You are being a bit of a detective, using facts to predict the future. Third, use it for moral or social duties. In many cultures, you 应该 be polite to your elders or 应该 bring a gift to a party. It covers the "unwritten rules" of life. Whether you are ordering food ("You should try the spicy tofu!") or at a job interview ("You should arrive early"), it fits perfectly.

Even though 应该 is powerful, it isn't for everything. Do not use it for absolute laws or commands. If a sign says "No Parking," it won't use 应该 because that would imply you have a choice. It would use 禁止 (prohibited) or 必须 (must). Also, avoid using it for physical ability. If you want to say you can't swim because you never learned, don't say you "shouldn't" swim. Use 不会 or 不能. Finally, don't use it when you are 100% certain of a fact with no room for doubt. 应该 always has a tiny hint of "in my opinion" or "based on what I know." If you are staring at a blue sky, don't say it "should" be blue. It just IS blue!

One of the most common hiccups is word order. Some people try to put 应该 at the very end of a sentence like a tag question. Nope! It must stay before the verb. Another classic mistake is the double negative. You might be tempted to say 不应该不, but that just gets confusing for everyone involved. Keep it simple. Also, watch out for the "Should Have" trap. In English, we say "I should have eaten." In Chinese, you still use 应该, but you usually add a time word or a completion particle like 了 to show it's in the past. Don't forget the 不 goes before 应该, not after it. Writing 应该不 is a common slip-up that will make native speakers tilt their heads like confused puppies.

It is easy to mix up 应该 with 要 (yào) or 必须 (bìxū). Think of it as a scale of intensity. 想 (xiǎng) is a wish (I want to). 应该 is a suggestion (I should). 要 is a need or a stronger intent (I must/need to). 必须 is a total requirement (I absolutely have to). If 想 is a whisper, 应该 is a normal speaking voice, and 必须 is a shout. Another one is 可以 (kěyǐ), which means "can" or "may." 可以 is about permission, while 应该 is about what is the better choice. You "can" eat cake for breakfast, but you "should" eat eggs. See the difference? One is about what is allowed, the other is about what is wise.