～べきだ・～べきではない
Say what should or should not be done
You’ll be able to give a strong judgment about the proper, responsible, or expected course of action.
キャンプ場で出たゴミは、自分で持ち帰るべきです。
kyanpujou de deta gomi wa, jibun de mochikaeru beki desu.
What do you think this sentence means?
Trash produced at the campsite should be taken home by oneself.
Express duty, moral obligation, or strong advice
～べきだ・～べきではない expresses a strong judgment about what is proper, responsible, or morally expected ("should", "ought to", "must not").
助けてもらったら、お礼を言うべきだ。
tasukete morattara, orei o iu beki da.
When someone helps you, you should thank them.
歩きながらスマホを使うべきではない。
arukinagara sumaho o tsukau beki dewa nai.
You should not use your smartphone while walking.
Attach べきだ to dictionary form verbs
Attach べきだ (or negative べきではない) directly to the dictionary form of verbs. For する, both すべきだ and するべきだ are common.
他人の悪口は決して言うべきではない。
tanin no waruguchi wa kesshite iu beki dewa nai.
You should never speak ill of others.
～ほうがいい vs ～べきだ
～ほうがいい is friendly advice: it would be better for you. ～べきだ is a firmer judgment about what is right or expected of everyone.
～ほうがいい, it would be better to
約束の時間は守ったほうがいいよ。
yakusoku no jikan wa mamotta hou ga ii yo.
It’d be better to keep to the agreed time.
Friendly advice for this person.
～べきだ, should (it is right)
約束の時間は守るべきだよ。
yakusoku no jikan wa mamoru beki da yo.
You should keep to the agreed time.
A rule of good conduct.
子どもの前では、親がタバコを吸うべきではない。
kodomo no mae de wa, oya ga tabako o suu beki de wa nai.
Parents should not smoke in front of their children.
電車でお年寄りが立っていたら、席を譲るべきだ。
densha de otoshiyori ga tatte itara, seki o yuzuru beki da.
If an elderly person is standing on the train, you should give up your seat.
会社のお金を、自分のために使うべきではない。
kaisha no okane o, jibun no tame ni tsukau beki de wa nai.
You must not use company money for yourself.
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