B1 noun Neutre 3 min de lecture

~べき

beki /beki/
Entraîne-toi

Overview

The Japanese grammatical construction '～べき' (beki) expresses obligation, recommendation, or strong expectation, akin to 'should,' 'ought to,' or 'must' in English. It attaches to the plain form (dictionary form) of verbs, or to the noun form (連体形 - rentaikei) of certain adjectives and nouns, although its use with nouns and adjectives is less common and often implies a verbal action.

Formation:

  • Verbs: Dictionary form of the verb + べき (beki)
  • 飲む (nomu - to drink) → 飲むべき (nomu beki - should drink)
  • する (suru - to do) → するべき (suru beki - should do) or すべき (subeki - a more concise and often preferred form)
  • 来る (kuru - to come) → 来るべき (kuru beki - should come) or 来べき (kobeki - less common, but exists)

Nuances and Usage:

  1. 1Strong Recommendation/Obligation: '～べき' conveys a sense of moral obligation, societal expectation, or logical necessity. It's stronger than '～ほうがいい' (hou ga ii - it's better to) but generally less forceful than '～なければならない' (nakereba naranai - must/have to).
  • Examples:
  • 子供たちは親の言うことを聞くべきだ。(Kodomotachi wa oya no iu koto o kiku beki da.) - Children should listen to what their parents say.
  • 私たちは環境を守るべきです。(Watashitachi wa kankyou o mamoru beki desu.) - We ought to protect the environment.
  • 約束は守るべきだ。(Yakusoku wa mamoru beki da.) - Promises should be kept.
  1. 1Negative Form: To express 'should not' or 'ought not to,' you use '～べきではない' (beki dewa nai) or '～べきではないだろう' (beki dewa nai darou) for a softer tone.
  • Examples:
  • 嘘をつくべきではない。(Uso o tsuku beki dewa nai.) - You should not lie.
  • 公共の場で大声で話すべきではない。(Koukyou no ba de oogoe de hanasu beki dewa nai.) - You shouldn't speak loudly in public places.
  1. 1Adjectival Usage (連体詞 - rentashi): '～べき' can also function as a pre-nominal adjective, modifying a noun that follows it. In this case, it becomes '～べきN' (beki N).
  • Example:
  • これは彼が言うべきことだ。(Kore wa kare ga iu beki koto da.) - This is something he should say.
  • 来るべき時が来た。(Kuru beki toki ga kita.) - The time that should come has arrived. (Meaning: The destined time has come.)

**Expressions with '～べき'**:

  • すべき: A common and often preferred contraction of するべき, especially in formal contexts.
  • まさに～べきだ: (masani ~ beki da) - 'It is exactly what should be done,' or 'It is precisely appropriate.'
  • ～べきである/～べきです: More formal and polite forms than '～べきだ'.

Common Mistakes/Considerations:

  • Subjectivity: While '～べき' implies a general consensus or strong belief, its application can sometimes be subjective. What one person 'should' do, another might not agree with.
  • Overuse: Overusing '～べき' can sound preachy or prescriptive. It's often reserved for significant matters or clear principles.
  • Comparison with other expressions:
  • ～ほうがいい (hou ga ii): Softer recommendation, 'it's better to.' (例: 早く寝た方がいい。- You'd better go to bed early.)
  • ～なければならない (nakereba naranai): Stronger obligation, 'must,' 'have to.' (例: 宿題をしなければならない。- I have to do my homework.)
  • ～たほうがいい (ta hou ga ii): Used for advice after an action has taken place or in a specific situation, 'it would be better to.'

In summary, '～べき' is a crucial expression for conveying what is considered proper, advisable, or necessary from a moral, logical, or societal standpoint. Its usage requires an understanding of its nuance compared to other expressions of recommendation or obligation.

Exemples

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2

Collocations courantes

するべきだ
考えるべきだ
言うべきだ
学ぶべきだ

Souvent confondu avec

~べき vs はず

'~べき' implies a strong recommendation, obligation, or a natural consequence, often with a moral or social imperative. It suggests what *should* be done. '~はず' indicates an expectation or a strong likelihood based on some information or reasoning. It suggests what *is expected* to be the case, or what *should* be the case logically, but without the strong sense of obligation. For example, 「するべきです」 (You should do it - strong recommendation/obligation) vs. 「するはずです」 (You are expected to do it/it should happen - expectation/likelihood).

~べき vs なければならない

'~べき' expresses a recommendation or a moral/social obligation, often with a nuance of what is proper or appropriate. It's strong but can be a suggestion. '~なければならない' expresses a strict necessity or compulsion, meaning something absolutely *must* be done. It's a stronger and more direct expression of obligation or requirement. For example, 「勉強するべきだ」 (You should study - a recommendation/good idea) vs. 「勉強しなければならない」 (You must study - a requirement).

~べき vs ほうがいい

'~べき' indicates a recommendation or an obligation, suggesting what *should* be done, often with a sense of moral correctness or what is proper. It carries more weight than 'ほうがいい'. '~ほうがいい' means 'it would be better to...' or 'you had better...'. It's a milder suggestion or advice, indicating a preferred option without the strong sense of obligation. For example, 「謝るべきだ」 (You should apologize - strong recommendation/obligation) vs. 「謝ったほうがいい」 (You had better apologize - milder advice).

Modèles grammaticaux

動詞の辞書形 + べきだ/べきではない 動詞の辞書形 + べき + 名詞 するべき (rather than しべき)

Comment l'utiliser

Notes d'usage

The '～べき' form attaches to the plain (dictionary) form of verbs, dropping the final 'u' for ichidan verbs (e.g., 食べる + べき → 食べるべき). For godan verbs, it attaches directly to the dictionary form (e.g., する + べき → するべき, but often becomes 'すべき' for smoother pronunciation, though 'するべき' is also correct). It can also attach to 'ある' as 'あるべき'. When used with a negative, it typically becomes '～すべきではない' or '～するべきではない' (should not do). It functions as an adjective, so it can directly modify nouns (e.g., '読むべき本' - a book one should read). The nuance of '～べき' can range from a strong suggestion to a moral imperative. While it conveys a sense of strong recommendation or duty, it is not as forceful as '～なければならない' (nakereba naranai, must do/have to do). '～べき' often implies a more internal or ethical motivation for the action, rather than an external compulsion. Overuse can sound preachy or overly formal, so it's best reserved for situations where a clear sense of obligation or strong recommendation is intended.

Erreurs courantes

One common mistake is confusing ～べき (~beki) with ～ほうがいい (~hou ga ii). While both express advice, ～べき implies a stronger sense of moral obligation, expectation, or what is proper/natural to do, often based on general principles or common sense. It carries more weight than ～ほうがいい, which is a softer recommendation or suggestion based on what is personally better for the listener. Another mistake is using ～べき with past tense verbs, as it typically refers to future actions or general principles. Also, remember that the negative form is ～べきではない (~beki dewa nai) or ～べきではないでしょうか (~beki dewa nai deshou ka) for a softer suggestion.

Astuces

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Usage of ~べき

~べき (~beki) attaches to the plain form of verbs (dictionary form for positive, ない form for negative) to express that something 'should' or 'ought to' be done. It conveys a sense of strong recommendation, obligation, or appropriateness based on common sense or moral standards. It can also be used to express regret for something that should have been done but wasn't. While often translated as 'should,' it carries a stronger nuance of moral or social expectation than a simple 'should.' For 'ought not to do,' use ~べきではない (~beki dewa nai) or ~べきではないでしょう (~beki dewa nai deshou) for a softer tone.

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Common Mistakes and Nuances

One common mistake is using ~べき in situations where a softer recommendation is needed. For general advice or polite suggestions, other grammatical structures like ~したほうがいい (~shita hou ga ii - 'it's better to...') or ~たらどうですか (~tara dou desu ka - 'why don't you...?) are more appropriate. ~べき implies a stronger conviction or even a moral imperative. Also, while ~べき is often used with plain verbs, the noun form べきだ (beki da) or べきである (beki de aru) can be used to end sentences formally, especially in written Japanese. Be mindful of the context to choose the appropriate level of politeness and strength of recommendation. For instance, in a casual conversation, saying 勉強するべきだ (benkyou suru beki da - 'You should study') might sound too strong; 勉強したほうがいいよ (benkyou shita hou ga ii yo - 'You'd better study') would be more natural.

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Contextual Use and Examples

~べき can be used in various contexts, from personal obligations to general societal expectations. For example: 1. **Moral/Social Obligation:** 約束は守るべきだ。(Yakusoku wa mamoru beki da.) - 'You should keep your promises.' 2. **Strong Recommendation:** もっと真剣に考えるべきだ。(Motto shinken ni kangaeru beki da.) - 'You should think more seriously.' 3. **Regret (Past Tense):** もっと早く来るべきだった。(Motto hayaku kuru beki datta.) - 'I should have come earlier.' 4. **Prohibition/What shouldn't be done:** 子供は嘘をつくべきではない。(Kodomo wa uso o tsuku beki dewa nai.) - 'Children should not lie.' 5. **What is appropriate/expected:** 彼はリーダーとして、皆をまとめるべきだ。(Kare wa riidaa to shite, mina o matomeru beki da.) - 'As a leader, he should bring everyone together.' Remember to choose the right form (plain verb + べき) and consider the nuance of obligation versus mere suggestion.

Origine du mot

From classical Japanese verb suffix 『べし』(beshi), expressing obligation, recommendation, or probability. Its usage can be traced back to the Heian period (794-1185) as an auxiliary verb. Over time, it evolved into the modern adjectival form, retaining its core meaning of indicating what is proper, advisable, or expected. It can attach to the dictionary form of verbs (e.g., するべき - suru beki - should do) or the negative form (e.g., すべきではない - suru beki dewa nai - should not do).

Contexte culturel

The Japanese grammatical construction '～べき' (beki) expresses a sense of obligation, strong recommendation, or what is considered proper and right. It carries a more prescriptive and sometimes moralistic tone than simple suggestions like '～ほうがいい' (hō ga ii, 'it's better to'). In Japanese culture, there's a strong emphasis on social harmony, fulfilling one's duties, and adhering to established norms. '～べき' often reflects these values, indicating actions or attitudes that align with societal expectations, professional responsibilities, or ethical principles. It can be used to advise someone on what they 'should' or 'ought to' do, or to express one's own conviction about what is necessary. Its usage can sometimes imply a sense of shared understanding about what is correct or expected within a given social context.

Astuce mémo

Visualize a 'Beckoning Cat' (Maneki-neko) gesturing, as if saying 'You really ought to do this!' or 'You should definitely come here!' The 'beck' in 'beckoning' sounds like 'beki.'

Questions fréquentes

4 questions

~べき (~beki) is a Japanese grammatical construct that conveys a sense of obligation, recommendation, or strong expectation. It indicates that something 'should be done,' 'ought to be done,' or 'it is proper to do.' It often implies a moral or social duty, or a logical conclusion based on the circumstances. It can also express a strong suggestion or advice.

~べき attaches to the plain form (dictionary form) of verbs. For example, 読む (yomu - to read) becomes 読むべき (yomubeki - should read). For する (suru - to do), it can become するべき (surubeki) or すべき (subeki), with すべき being a slightly more formal or emphatic option. For い-adjectives, it's less common, but you might see it used with the stem (e.g., 熱い -> 熱くあるべき - should be hot), and for な-adjectives and nouns, it typically attaches to the plain form with である (e.g., 静かであるべき - should be quiet).

Yes, to express a negative obligation or that something 'should not be done,' you attach ~べき to the negative plain form of the verb (ない form). For example, 食べる (taberu - to eat) becomes 食べないべき (tabenai beki - should not eat). However, a more common and natural way to express 'should not do' is to use ~べきではない (~beki dewa nai), which directly means 'it should not be done.' For example, 嘘をつくべきではない (uso o tsuku beki dewa nai - you shouldn't lie).

While both ~べき and ~なければならない express obligation, they carry different nuances. ~なければならない (~nakereba naranai - must do/have to do) generally conveys a stronger, more absolute necessity or compulsion, often stemming from rules, laws, or external circumstances. ~べき (~beki - should do/ought to do) is more about moral, ethical, or logical appropriateness, suggesting a recommended course of action rather than a strict requirement. It often implies that doing otherwise would be improper or regrettable, but not necessarily a violation of a strict rule.

Teste-toi

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彼はもっと日本語を勉強する___。 (He should study Japanese more.)

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
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約束は守る___。 (Promises ought to be kept.)

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
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そんなことは言う___ではない。 (You shouldn't say such things.)

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :

Score : /3

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