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〜ほうがいい

had better, should

Verb た-form / ない form + ほうがいい

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ほうがいい gives advice: 早く寝たほうがいいですよ, "you'd better get to bed early". Literally "the side of having slept is good".

For advice to do something, the verb is usually in the た-form, even though it's about the future. For advice not to, use the ない form: 食べないほうがいい, "better not eat".

It's fairly direct, so with a superior it's softer to add かもしれません ("it might be better") or just share your own experience. Between friends and to family, it's the everyday "you should".

The dictionary form (寝るほうがいい) is also heard, and tends to compare two options rather than give advice.

Examples

  • 早はやく寝ねたほうがいいですよ。

    You'd better get to bed early.

  • 風邪かぜなら、薬くすりを飲のんだほうがいい。

    If it's a cold, you should take some medicine.

  • 夜よるは食たべすぎないほうがいいです。

    It's better not to eat too much at night.

  • 熱ねつがあるなら、病院びょういんに行いったほうがいいですよ。

    If you have a fever, you should go to the hospital.

  • 夜よるは一人ひとりで歩あるかないほうがいい。

    Better not to walk alone at night.

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