Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 9: 10/13

～た方(ほう)がいいIt'd be better to, Should do

Structure

Verb［た］+ 方(ほう) + が + いい

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Expression

  • Word Type

    Adjective

  • Register

    Standard

About たほうがいい

In Japanese, there are several ways to express that something 'should' be done. たほうがいい is one of the most common, especially when giving advice. This expression uses the past tense of a verb grouped with 方(ほう), the particle が, and the い-Adjective, いい.

As 方(ほう) can be translated closely to 'way', or 'direction', this expression is suggesting that one specific choice is simply the better 'way'.

This expression is quite direct, and can imply that there may be some sort of negative consequence if (A) is not done. In that respect, this phrase could also be translated as 'It would be better if you did (A)'.

たほうがいい may also be used with the base (dictionary) form of a verb, but will sound more like a general opinion in those cases, rather than giving advice.

Caution

Because this phrase is quite direct, it would be better to use a more polite expression like ばいい, if giving general advice.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related

Examples

--:--

    お医者(いしゃ)さんに聞(き)いたほうがいい。

    It would be better to ask a doctor.

    帰(かえ)ったほうがいい。

    It'd be better to go home.

    朝(あさ)ごはんを食(た)べたほうがいい。

    It would be better to eat breakfast.

    自分(じぶん)の皿(さら)を洗(あら)ったほうがいい。

    It would be better to wash your own dishes.

    それは返(かえ)したほうがいいだろう。

    It would be better to return that, wouldn't it.

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たほうがいい – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (8 in total)

  • Ambo100

    Ambo100

    Regarding the grammar structure given:

    Perhaps it would be better to say:

    Past Tense Verb (Short Form) + 方・が・いい

    Although as @Talos has mentioned it is technically perfect tense, I think it might be a bit confusing for those who haven’t learnt about that yet.

    I just had a review where the answer was:

    ここに すんだほうがいい 。[住すむ]

    So the existing grammar structure would not take into account た > だ and various other exceptions.

    Another note from what I read in Genki is that

    when the advice is negative, however, the verb is in the present tense short form.

  • eclipse77x

    eclipse77x

    Can 〜方がいい (and 〜べき) be used in conjunction with と思う to discuss what is “better/best for yourself” or “what you yourself must do”? Is there another grammar structure that is more suited to this purpose?

    Example: I think it would be better (for me) to exercise more.
    もっと運動したほうがいいと思います。

    Is the only difference between 〜方がいい and 〜べき the nuance between “should” and “must”? Would the sentence「もっと運動するべきだと思います。」have a similar feel, something close to “I think I’ve got to exercise more.”?

  • crisp-y

    crisp-y

    Many years later, here’s my ten cents. This is a classical case of Japanese saying suggestions in a roundabout way.

    The た form doesn’t indicate the past tense here in the usual sense, but rather a completed, desirable state (as others say, perfect tense). It’s as if saying, “It’s better if things were already in this state/done this way” (ほう afterall, means method/way). This creates a sense of completion or ideal outcome.

    E.g. レポートは手書きで書いたほうがいい
    = It’d be better to write the report by hand

    Lit: It’s better if the report is already in the state of having been handwritten

    The reason that it’s present tense in the negative (ない方がいい) is because we are not talking about a desired, completed action. Instead, we’re saying it’s better if this action does not happen at all. This makes sense because if an action never happens, it can’t b...

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