帰（かえ）った方（ほう）がいい。

座（すわ）った方（ほう）がいいでしょう。

ニュースを見（み）た方（ほう）がいい。

家（いえ）に帰（かえ）った方（ほう）がいいよ。

お医者（いしゃ）さんに聞（き）いた方（ほう）がいい。

朝（あさ）ごはんを食（た）べた方（ほう）がいい。

自分（じぶん）の皿（さら）を洗（あら）った方（ほう）がいい。

それは返（かえ）した方（ほう）がいいだろう。

「宿題（しゅくだい）をした方（ほう）がいい」と先生（せんせい）が言（い）いました。

ここに住（す）んだ方（ほう）がいい。

毎日（まいにち）掃除（そうじ）をした方（ほう）がいい。

川（かわ）に遊（あそ）びに行（い）った方（ほう）がいい。

「ばいい」vs「たら」vs「ほうがいい」vs「ばよかった」

<div class='writeup-body'>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.<ul class='writeup-examples--holder'><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>食（た）べる前（まえ）に手（て）を洗（あら）った方（ほう）がいいよ。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>It would be better if you washed your hands before you eat. (You should wash your hands)</div></li><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>警察（けいさつ）に言（い）った方（ほう）がいい。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>It would be better if you told the police. (You should tell the police)</div></li></ul>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.<ul class='writeup-examples--holder'><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>高（たか）いけど、美味（おい）しいお肉（にく）を食（た）べる方（ほう）がいい。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>Even though it is expensive, it is better to eat delicious meat. (This is a general opinion)</div></li><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>食器（しょっき）はすぐ片付（かたづ）ける方（ほう）がいい。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>It is better to put away the dishes as soon as possible. (This is a general opinion)</div></li></ul><div class='writeup-caution'><div class='caution-header'>Caution</div>Because this phrase is quite direct, it would be better to use a more polite expression like ばいい, if giving general advice.</div></div>

Grammar Info

～た方(ほう)がいい

It'd be better to, Should do