Meaning
Used to give advice or recommendations. It often follows the past form for positive advice and the negative form for advice not to do something.
Formation
- To advise doing: た form + ほうがいい: 運動したほうがいいです
- To advise against: ない form + ほうがいい
When to use it
- Core use
- Should, had better
Example
毎日少し運動したほうがいいです
You should exercise a little every day.
Important notes
- Pay attention to the word form before the construction and to the particles around it.
Common mistakes
- Do not translate the pattern word for word; first identify its function in the whole situation.