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N3

Should / Ought To: 〜べきだ

About 10 minutes · written and reviewed by Haruki Yamamoto

Section 1 of 3

Core Meaning

Verb dictionary form + べきだ means 'should' or 'ought to.' It expresses what the speaker believes is proper, reasonable, or expected behavior.

  1. Target signal

    約束は守るべきだ。

    You should keep your promises.

    This is a judgment about what is right.

    Vocabulary notes
    べきだ〜べきだ
    should; ought to
    べきだ
    should; ought to
    守るまもる
    protect; keep

  2. Compare in context

    大事なメールには早く返事をするべきです。

    You should reply quickly to important emails.

    The speaker presents a norm or expectation.

    Vocabulary notes
    メール
    email; mail
    する
    to do
    です
    to be (polite); is; am; are

Section 2 of 3

How It Differs from Similar Forms

べきだ is not the same as はずだ. はずだ is a factual expectation. べきだ is a value judgment. It is also often more opinion-based than なければならない. With する, the shortened form すべきだ is also very common in writing.

  1. Target signal

    彼はもう来るはずだ。

    He should be coming already.

    This is a logical expectation, not a moral judgment.

    Vocabulary notes
    はずだ
    should; be expected to
    はず
    supposed to; expected to
    もう
    already; any more

  2. Preview

    学生は十分に休むべきだ。

    Students should get enough rest.

    This is the speaker's view of what is proper or necessary.

    Vocabulary notes
    べきだ〜べきだ
    should; ought to
    べきだ
    should; ought to
    休むやすむ
    to rest

Section 3 of 3

Tone in Reading

Because べきだ sounds strong, writers use it carefully in essays and opinion pieces. When you read it, notice whose standard is being expressed and how strongly the writer is committing to it.

  1. Target signal

    便利さだけで物を選ぶべきではない。

    You should not choose things based only on convenience.

    The writer presents a principle.

    Vocabulary notes
    だけで
    with only; just by
    だけ
    only; just
    では
    well then; in; by means of

  2. Preview

    問題が起きたら、まず事実を確認するべきだ。

    When a problem happens, you should first confirm the facts.

    The form gives firm but general advice.

    Vocabulary notes
    確認するかくにんする
    to check; confirm
    べきだ〜べきだ
    should; ought to
    べきだ
    should; ought to

Reading in context

Read for meaning before checking the answer

Before you read

Read once for the situation. Then notice how 〜べきだ changes the meaning before you check the translation.

約束は守るべきだ。 大事なメールには早く返事をするべきです。 彼はもう来るはずだ。 学生は十分に休むべきだ。 便利さだけで物を選ぶべきではない。 問題が起きたら、まず事実を確認するべきだ。 もう一度読んでください。前後の文を比べてください。場面と話し手を考えてください。意味の流れを最後まで確認して、使い分けを考えてください。もう一度読んでください。前後の文を比べてください。場面と話し手を考えてください。意味の流れを最後まで確認して、使い分けを考えてください。もう一度読んでください。前後の文を比べ

Show English translation

You should keep your promises. You should reply quickly to important emails. He should be coming already. Students should get enough rest. You should not choose things based only on convenience. When a problem happens, you should first confirm the facts.

Contextual questions

Answer from the passage before you reveal each explanation.

  1. What is the first reading job for this passage?

    • Identify the situation and how 〜べきだ changes it.
    • Translate every word before using context.
    • Ignore the ending because only vocabulary matters.
    • Choose an answer before reading the full passage.
    Check the answer

    Identify the situation and how 〜べきだ changes it.

    The goal is to use the situation first, then confirm the role of 〜べきだ in context.

Guided practice

Apply the lesson in a few different ways

Work through each prompt, then check the explanation before moving on.

Activity 1 of 5Choose the best context

What kind of meaning does 〜べきだ express?

Activity 2 of 5Fill the blank

Complete the chunk that carries the lesson meaning (〜べきだ).

約束は守る＿＿＿。

Activity 3 of 5Put it in order

Put these related examples back into the order used in the lesson.

  1. 1大事なメールには早く返事をするべきです。
  2. 2彼はもう来るはずだ。
  3. 3約束は守るべきだ。
Activity 4 of 5Infer from the passage

What should guide your interpretation of 〜べきだ in the mini-reading?

Activity 5 of 5Infer from the passage

Cumulative checkpoint: Which reading habit helps you combine this lesson with the earlier grammar?

Mastery check 1/4

What kind of meaning does 〜べきだ express?