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〜ばよかった

I should have, I wish I had

Verb ば-form + よかった · なければよかった

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ばよかった is regret: literally, "if I'd done it, it would have been good". 傘を持ってくればよかった, "I should have brought an umbrella".

For something you wish you hadn't done, use the negative ば-form: 食べなければよかった, "I shouldn't have eaten it".

Add のに for a wistful or reproachful ending: もっと早く言えばよかったのに, "you should have said so sooner". Aimed at someone else, it's a gentle complaint.

In casual speech the たら version is just as common: 聞いたらよかった. The present form, ばいい, looks forward instead and gives advice.

Examples

  • 雨あめだ。傘かさを持もってくればよかった。

    It's raining. I should have brought an umbrella.

  • もっと早はやく起おきればよかった。

    I should have got up earlier.

  • あんなに食たべなければよかった。

    I shouldn't have eaten so much.

  • 先生せんせいに聞きけばよかった。

    I should have asked the teacher.

  • もっと早はやく言いえばよかったのに。

    You should have said so sooner.

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