JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N5 grammar · Chapter 12

～た方がいい

Give advice: you should do this

You’ll be able to give someone advice about what they should do in a situation.

Illustration of the scene described by You should take an umbrella.
Read it first

傘かさを持もって行いった方ほうがいいです。

kasa o motte itta hou ga ii desu.

What do you think this sentence means?

You should take an umbrella.

Why it means that

Give advice to do something

Use ～た方ほうがいい to recommend an action: “you should…” or “it would be better to…”. Depending on tone, it can sound fairly strong, so use it when advice is appropriate.

Example

今日きょうは早はやく寝ねた方ほうがいいですよ。

kyou wa hayaku neta hou ga ii desu yo.

You should go to bed early today.

How it is built

Verb-た + 方がいい

Put the recommended action in the た-form and add 方ほうがいいです.

Verb-た+方がいい（です）
Examples

病院びょういんに行いった方ほうがいいです。

byouin ni itta hou ga ii desu.

You should go to the hospital.

もっと水みずを飲のんだ方ほうがいいですよ。

motto mizu o nonda hou ga ii desu yo.

You should drink more water.

電車でんしゃで行いった方ほうがいいです。

densha de itta hou ga ii desu.

It would be better to go by train.

Compare

～なくてはいけません vs ～た方がいい

Both push someone toward an action. なくてはいけません leaves no choice; た方がいい is advice they are free to ignore.

  • Advice

    今日きょうは早はやく寝ねた方ほうがいいですよ。

    kyou wa hayaku neta hou ga ii desu yo.

    You should go to bed early today.

    A suggestion, softened further by よ.

  • Obligation

    今日きょうは早はやく寝ねなくてはいけません。

    kyou wa hayaku nenakute wa ikemasen.

    You have to go to bed early today.

    A requirement, with no room to decline.

Examples

テストの前まえの日ひは早くはやく寝ねた方ほうがいいです。

tesuto no mae no hi wa hayaku neta hou ga ii desu.

You should go to bed early the day before a test.

朝あさごはんを食べたべた方ほうがいいですよ。

asagohan o tabeta hou ga ii desu yo.

You should eat breakfast.

暑いあつい日ひは水みずをたくさん飲のんだ方ほうがいいです。

atsui hi wa mizu o takusan nonda hou ga ii desu.

You should drink plenty of water on hot days.

12 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.