～ない方がいい
Advise against doing something
You’ll be able to warn someone gently against doing something unwise.
夜はコーヒーを飲まない方がいいです。
yoru wa koohii o nomanai hou ga ii desu.
What do you think this sentence means?
You shouldn’t drink coffee at night.
Advise someone not to do something
Use ～ない方がいい to say that it would be better not to do an action.
今日は無理をしない方がいいです。
kyou wa muri o shinai hou ga ii desu.
You should not push yourself today.
Verb-ない + 方がいい
Put the action in the ない-form and add 方がいいです.
そんなに急がない方がいいです。
sonna ni isoganai hou ga ii desu.
You should not hurry that much.
夜遅くコーヒーを飲まない方がいいですよ。
yoru osoku koohii o nomanai hou ga ii desu yo.
You should not drink coffee late at night.
この道は使わない方がいいです。
kono michi wa tsukawanai hou ga ii desu.
It would be better not to use this road.
～てはいけません vs ～ない方がいい
てはいけません is a strict rule or prohibition leaving no choice. ない方がいい is friendly advice suggesting an action is unwise.
ない方がいい, advice
寝る前にスマホを見ない方がいいです。
neru mae ni sumaho o minai hou ga ii desu.
You shouldn’t look at your phone before sleeping.
A health suggestion, not an enforced rule.
てはいけません, prohibition
映画館でスマホを見てはいけません。
eigakan de sumaho o mite wa ikemasen.
You must not look at your phone in the cinema.
A strict rule; it is forbidden.
寝る前にコーヒーを飲まない方がいいです。
neru mae ni koohii o nomanai hou ga ii desu.
You should not drink coffee before going to bed.
この水は飲まない方がいいです。
kono mizu wa nomanai hou ga ii desu.
You should not drink this water.
雨の日は自転車に乗らない方がいいです。
ame no hi wa jitensha ni noranai hou ga ii desu.
You should not ride a bicycle on rainy days.
10 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.