Advice

Stage 4Grammar patterns as vocabularyChunk 27 of 27 · items 482–484 of 484

The standard ways to give advice, warn against something, and ask what to do.

Mix-ups

Positive advice takes the past -ta (yasunda hou ga ii), negative takes plain -nai (muri shinai hou ga ii), never -nakatta; -tara ii is the softer one and is how you ask: dou shitara ii?

-ta hou ga ii

polite -ta hou ga ii desudrama rank #1025*

you should, it's better to

〜た方がいい 〜たほうがいいPlay 〜た方がいいですPlay

Attaches to the past form to give firm advice (yasunda hou ga ii), with present meaning despite the past form.

casualPlay

kyou wa yasunda hou ga ii yo.

You should rest today.

今日は休んだ方がいいよ。

politePlay

kyou wa yasunda hou ga ii desu yo.

You should rest today.

今日は休んだ方がいいですよ。

Can sound strong; soften with kamo (yasunda hou ga ii kamo).

Learn alongside: -nai hou ga ii, -tara iiLearn first: -ta, ii

-nai hou ga ii

polite -nai hou ga ii desudrama rank #1025*

better not

〜ない方がいい 〜ないほうがいいPlay 〜ない方がいいですPlay

Attaches to the plain -nai form to advise against something (ikanai hou ga ii, muri shinai hou ga ii).

casualPlay

kyou wa muri shinai hou ga ii yo.

Better not push yourself today.

今日は無理しない方がいいよ。

politePlay

kyou wa muri shinai hou ga ii desu yo.

It's better not to push yourself today.

今日は無理しない方がいいですよ。

Never *-nakatta hou ga ii: positive takes -ta, negative takes -nai.

Learn alongside: -ta hou ga ii, -tara iiLearn first: -nai, -ta hou ga ii

-tara ii

polite -tara ii desudrama rank —none

should I / you could

〜たらいいPlay 〜たらいいですPlay

Attaches to the -tara form to ask for advice (dou shitara ii?) or to suggest something gently (kiitara ii yo).

casualPlay

dou shitara ii?

What should I do?

どうしたらいい？

politePlay

dou shitara ii desu ka?

What should I do?

どうしたらいいですか？

-ba ii (dou sureba ii?) means the same and sounds slightly more careful. Casual suggestions often stop at -tara? or -tara dou?: kiitara? = why don't you ask?

Learn alongside: -ta hou ga ii, -nai hou ga iiLearn first: -tara, ii