Character

该

gāi HSK 3

该 gāi HSK 3

1. should; ought to
2. indicates an inevitable or probable outcome based on reason or experience
3. to be someone's turn
4. to owe; to be in debt
5. this (referring to a previously mentioned person or matter, often used in official documents)
6. (lit.) same as "赅"
7. emphasizes a favorable wish or expectation
8. a surname
9. auxiliary verb: ① should; ought to ② indicates that something is as expected based on reason or experience
10. serves right; deserved (used alone)

Words using 该 as gāi (2)

1 应该 yīng gāi — should HSK 3
- 应 should, ought to (expressing obligation)
- 该 ought to (reinforcing modal obligation)
Example

你应该早点休息。

nǐ yīng gāi zǎo diǎn xiū xi

You should rest earlier.
2 活该 huó gāi — serve someone right HSK 7
- 活 part of a fixed expression (not literal 'alive')
- 该 should, ought to, deserve
Example

你总是迟到，被老板批评活该。

nǐ zǒng shì chí dào bèi lǎo bǎn pī píng huó gāi

You're always late, you deserve to be criticized by the boss.

Structure & writing

该 gāi — should; ought to

该 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

1 讠 yán — speech/language radical

讠 is a component in 75 characters

HSK 1

认 rèn to recognize; to distinguish 识 shí to know; to recognize; to distinguish 话 huà speech; spoken words; language 语 yǔ speech; words 说 shuō to express in words; to speak

Show more HSK 1 characters (+5)

请 qǐng to request; to ask 读 dú to read aloud following written text 课 kè schoolwork; planned segmented instruction 谁 shéi who (interrogative pronoun) 谢 xiè to thank (reduplicated for emphasis)

HSK 2

让 ràng yield; give way to others when both parties need something 记 jì to memorize; to remember 诉 sù to tell, to express fully and unreservedly 词 cí word (the smallest free-standing unit of language, e.g. nouns, verbs, adjectives) 试 shì to try; to attempt; to test informally

HSK 3

议 yì to discuss; to deliberate 讲 jiǎng to speak; to talk 该 gāi should; ought to 调 tiáo well-proportioned; harmonious

HSK 4

计 jì to calculate; to reckon 订 dìng to correct, to revise (errors in text) 讨 tǎo to launch a punitive expedition; to attack with troops 许 xǔ to permit; to allow 论 lùn to analyze and judge the reasoning of things

Show more HSK 4 characters (+8)

证 zhèng to prove or verify with people, objects, or facts 评 píng critical comment or review article 诚 chéng sincere, genuine (of one's heart or intentions) 详 xiáng detailed and thorough (opposite of 略) 误 wù wrong; erroneous 谅 liàng to understand and forgive 谈 tán to speak or discuss 谊 yì friendship; friendly relations

HSK 5

罚 fá to punish someone for a mistake or crime 训 xùn to teach; to admonish 设 shè to arrange; to set up 访 fǎng to inquire; to investigate by questioning 诊 zhěn to examine a patient (to diagnose an illness)

Show more HSK 5 characters (+3)

诗 shī poetry; poem (a literary form expressing emotion through rhythmic language) 询 xún to inquire, to seek opinions 谨 jǐn cautious; careful

HSK 6

讯 xùn to inquire 讶 yà (lit.) to be surprised; to wonder at 诞 dàn to be born; to give birth 诸 zhū all, many, various 诺 nuò an exclamation of agreement, similar to 'yes' or 'okay'

Show more HSK 6 characters (+3)

谐 xié harmonious; well-coordinated 谓 wèi to say; to tell 谦 qiān humble, modest

HSK 7

狱 yù prison; jail 蔼 ǎi friendly, amiable 讥 jī to mock, to satirize 讳 huì to avoid mentioning; to taboo speaking of something 讹 é erroneous; untrue

Show more HSK 7 characters (+22)

讼 sòng to litigate; to take a case to court 讽 fěng to satirize, mock, or admonish with cutting innuendo 诀 jué mnemonic rhyme or phrase summarizing key points of a subject 诈 zhà to deceive; to swindle 诠 quán to explain; to interpret 诡 guǐ deceitful, cunning 诧 chà to be astonished; to feel surprised 诫 jiè to warn; to admonish 诬 wū to falsely accuse; to slander with fabricated facts 诱 yòu to guide; to counsel 诵 sòng read aloud; recite with intonation 诽 fěi to slander; to speak ill of others without basis 谋 móu plan; stratagem; scheme 谍 dié (lit.) to secretly gather intelligence on military, political, or economic matters 谎 huǎng lie; falsehood 谜 mí riddle; enigmatic puzzle phrased in words for guessing 谣 yáo folk song; improvised rhyme sung without accompaniment 谤 bàng (lit.) to denounce and publicize others' faults 谬 miù erroneous; mistaken 谱 pǔ a chart, table, or book compiled by category or system 谴 qiǎn to reproach; to reprimand 辩 biàn to debate; to argue about right and wrong or truth and falsehood

2 亥 hài — twelfth of the twelve Earthly Branches

亥 is a component in 7 characters

HSK 1

孩 hái young child

HSK 3

刻 kè to carve or engrave patterns or characters on bamboo, wood, jade, stone, metal, etc. 该 gāi should; ought to

HSK 4

咳 ké to cough

HSK 6

核 hé hard pit or stone at the center of a fruit

HSK 7

阂 hé to be blocked or separated by a barrier 骇 hài to frighten; to shock

Stroke order