Meaning
Advises performing or avoiding an action.
Formation
- To advise doing: た form + ほうがいい: 早く寝たほうがいいです
- To advise against: ない form + ほうがいい: 出かけないほうがいい
When to use it
- Core use
- Advises performing or avoiding an action
Examples
13 sentences-
早く寝たほうがいいです
You should go to bed early.
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今日は出かけないほうがいい
You had better not go out today.
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熱があるから、今日は休んだほうがいいです
You have a fever, so you should rest today.
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毎日野菜を食べたほうがいいです
You should eat vegetables every day.
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少し休んだほうがいいです
You should rest a little.
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駅までタクシーで行ったほうがいいです
You should take a taxi to the station.
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寒いからコートを着たほうがいいです
It is cold, so you should wear a coat.
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先生に聞いたほうがいいです
You should ask the teacher.
5 more examples
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短い手紙を書いたほうがいいです
It is better to write a short letter.
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お酒はあまり飲まないほうがいいです
You should not drink much alcohol.
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パスワードを人に教えないほうがいいです
You should not tell other people your password.
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暗い道を一人で歩かないほうがいいです
You should not walk along a dark road alone.
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夜遅くに電話しないほうがいいです
You should not phone late at night.
Important notes
- The た form in advice does not refer to the past: 寝たほうがいい (you'd better sleep). Advice can sound pushy towards a superior; 休んだらどうですか is gentler between equals; for a superior, consider 〜たらいかがですか or 〜たほうがいいかもしれません.
Common mistakes
- Negative advice uses the ない form: 行かないほうがいい, not 行かなかったほうがいい or 行ったほうがよくない.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
Hear it in podcasts
The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.
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