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JLPT N2Grammar
~べき

should, ought to

Intermediate
20-25 min
very common
Checked against our selection criteria

Explanation

Expresses strong obligation or moral duty. More formal than ~はずだ.

Formation

[Verb dictionary form] + べき / べきだ / べきではない

Examples

学生は毎日勉強するべきだ。

Gakusei wa mainichi benkyou suru beki da.

Students should study every day.

そんなことを言うべきではない。

Sonna koto wo iu beki dewa nai.

You should not say such things.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

する becomes すべき (not するべき in formal writing).

Study Tips

Memory Aids

  • •べき = should → moral obligation

Practice Tips

Common in formal recommendations and moral statements.

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