Dictionary🇨🇳 Chinese → 🇺🇸 English
该
gāi
Description
"该"常常用来表示应该做的事情，比如"你该睡觉了"。
"该" is often used to indicate something that should be done, for example, "你该睡觉了" (You should go to bed).
它也可以用在很正式的文章里，意思是"这个"或"那个"。
It can also be used in very formal writing to mean "this" or "that".
Meanings
该gāi
should; ought to
时间不早了，你该回家了。
It's getting late; you should go home.
该gāi
the said; this; that (formal)
该公司有很多员工。
The company has many employees.
该我gāi wǒ
be one's turn
现在该我说话了。
Now it's my turn to speak.
Related words
Notes
- Nuance
该 as "should" is shorter and more colloquial than 应该; both are common.
- Etymology
the formal "this/said" sense is common in official and legal writing.
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