该
A add to a list Esc back to results
Definitions
- 1. should
- 2. ought to
- 3. probably
- 4. must be
- 5. to deserve
- 6. to owe
- 7. to be sb's turn to do sth
- 8. that
- 9. the above-mentioned
Stop forgetting what you study.
Build recall daily.
Try HanyuGuide's Chinese review system with multiple choice, typed recall, tone-aware practice, and reviews scheduled before memory fades.
Get Yearly · $49.99 / year
Did Google show an error? Sorry about that. Use your email below instead.
By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Character focus
Stroke order
Word relationships
Usage notes
Common mistakes
该 is not used for future certainty like English 'should' (e.g., 'it should arrive tomorrow' uses 应该, not 该).
Formality
该 meaning 'the above-mentioned' is formal and mainly used in written or legal contexts.
Grammar
Guides that feature 该
Jump into a full guide with fill-in-the-blank drills. Clicking will load the page and move you to the top.
Use 该学习就学习，该玩就玩 to say that each thing should be done when its time comes, without fuss or hesitation.
Use 该……了 to say it’s time to do something, or that it’s someone’s turn.
Example Sentences
4 shown我 该 回去了。
我们吃完了， 该 结账了。
时间不早了，我们 该 告辞了。
活 该 。
Sentence data courtesy of Tatoeba.org. AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.
Words Containing 该
ought to
(coll.) serve sb right
should not
Achaia
ought to
Book of Haggai
you're most welcome
Sadducees
Micah
Gaea, the Earth Goddess and mother of the Titans
erudite
should
wretched
should
Cain (name)
should be going