Should

[danfernold7261]

Konnichiwa.

I have a question about "should" I know that google translate sometimes gives strange answers, but I tried translating "You should..... and Google used [verb]+beki

Now, I´ve heard about [past-tense] hou ga ii desu, for "you should" and is that the prefered structure?

I eagerly wait for your reply

Arigatou gozaimasu

Dan Fernold

[ericf]

konnichiwa, dan san,

Whilst [verb]+beki does mean "should" there are two things to note:
1) It's very strong language: don't use it to your friends/colleagues, definitely don't use it towards your superiors!
2) It can't be used with the negative form of the verb as far as I know.

The form you found; "...hou ga ii" is definitely the preferred form. Literally it means "... way is good". As you said it can be used with the past-tense of a verb (even for future events), but it can also be used with the negative form.

o mizu wo yoku nonda hou ga ii desu. - You should drink plenty of water.
o sake wo nomi suginai hou ga ii desu. - You shouldn't drink too much alcohol. (-ve of sugiru)

It can also be used with nouns, adjectives etc.

[danfernold7261]

OK . Just as I thought then.

Didn't know (or hadn't heard) about it used with negative forms.
I assume that means that it can be used for "you shouldn't...."?

Just doublechecking

Dan Fernold

[community.japanese]

Dan-san, エリックsan,
kon'nichiwa
Thank you very much for spot-on explanations, エリックsan!!

Just to add a little note (hope this won't confuse you), "...beki" can be used with negative form of verbs.
However, it's more common to use "[verb dictionary form] beki dewa arimasen".
Connotations are, of course, different.
ex.
1. ashita wa dekakeru beki dewa arimasen.
2. ashita wa dekake nai beki desu.
The sentence 1 is practically saying "You shouldn't go out tomorrow" while the sentence 2 implies more like
"You should stay at home without going out". Obligations/orders that this speaker is giving are
sentence 1: denying the possibility of going out
sentence 2: ordering not to go out.
Like Eric-san wrote, "beki" is a very strong word, so if it's used in affirmative sentence, it's a very strong demand
or recommendation almost like an order. Negative sentence means it's denying this strong message.

Natsuko(奈津子),
Team JapanesePod101.com

[danfernold7261]

Ok, so "neg. verb" hou ga ii desu is prefered then?

Dan Fernold

[ericf]

Just to add a little note (hope this won't confuse you), "...beki" can be used with negative form of verbs.
However, it's more common to use "[verb dictionary form] beki dewa arimasen".
Connotations are, of course, different.
ex.
1. ashita wa dekakeru beki dewa arimasen.
2. ashita wa dekake nai beki desu.
The sentence 1 is practically saying "You shouldn't go out tomorrow" while the sentence 2 implies more like
"You should stay at home without going out". Obligations/orders that this speaker is giving are
sentence 1: denying the possibility of going out
sentence 2: ordering not to go out.

説明ありがとうございます。

[danfernold7261]

Ok, so "Verb"-beki dewa arimasen/ja arimasen/janai is prefered, and not "neg. verb" hou ga ii, then?

Dan Fernold

[community.japanese]

Dan-san,
it really depends on the context and/or what you want to express.
In most cases, yes, it's more natural to say "[neg. verb] hou ga ii" but there are
situations where "[verb] nai beki desu".
"[neg.verb] hou ga ii desu." is another. It's sofer than [beki] expressions.

エリックさん、
どういたしまして

Natsuko(奈津子),
Team JapanesePod101.com

[danfernold7261]

Ok. I see. something like the inner/outer group then, or suggestion/"warning" (by warning I mean like: you should't have done that.)

Yoroshiku to arigatou gozaimasu




Dan Fernold

[team.relationships]

Dan, you are welcome!


Mata-ne
Ofelia
Team JapanesePod101.com