How to Say "Should" in Japanese

べき

beki

To say should in Japanese, use べき (beki), which expresses what someone ought to do.

べき expresses a strong moral or logical obligation. In speech it is usually followed by だ or だよ to finish the sentence.

Meaning: expressing obligation (verb)

Which one should you use?

べき states an obligation. For practical advice or a suggestion, Japanese uses 〜たほうがいい, it is better to.

べき attaches directly to the dictionary form of a verb. The negative should not is べきではない, and should have is べきだった.

Say it as beki.

べき can sound strong when giving advice. For a gentle suggestion use 〜たほうがいい instead.

While English uses 'should' for polite suggestions, using べき to give advice to a superior in Japan can be seen as incredibly rude or condescending.
The word べき is actually a remnant of the classical Japanese particle べし, which functioned as a command or a strong assertion of inevitability.
In certain formal contexts, the negative form べからず is used instead of べきではない to issue a strict prohibition, such as 'must not' or 'do not'.

禁煙すべきだ。
You should quit smoking.
すべきだ tells someone they should quit smoking.
Tatoeba #8579904 by small_snow, translation #495668 by CK
見ておくべきだ。
You should try to see it.
見ておくべきだ means you should see it.
Tatoeba #175176 by bunbuku, translation #239289 by CK
辞めるべきだよ。
You should quit.
辞めるべきだよ adds よ for emphasis.
Tatoeba #3366937 by arnab, translation #2549414 by CK
君はもっと早く家に帰るべきだ。
You should go home earlier.
明日は雨が降るから、傘を持ったほうがいい。
It will rain tomorrow, so you should take an umbrella.
318 more sentences on Tatoeba

Yota and Misaki are discussing a project deadline.

美咲 Misaki

もう準備を始めるべきだよ。
mou junbi o hajimeru beki da yo.
You should start preparing already.
陽太 Yota

そうだね。明日までだもんね。
sou da ne. ashita made da mon ne.
You're right. It's due tomorrow.
美咲 Misaki

早めに終わらせた方がいいよ。
hayame ni owarasetta hou ga ii yo.
It's better to finish it early.
陽太 Yota

わかった。今からやるよ。
wakatta. ima kara yaru yo.
I got it. I'll do it now.

Sources

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