〜べきではない

Should Not

Level 4Sounds Like bekidehanai

〜べきではない is used to state that an action is improper, unethical, or contrary to social common sense. It translates to 'should not' or 'ought not to' and carries a tone of objective judgment rather than personal advice.

How It Works

1. Meaning and Nuance
〜べきではない indicates that it is only natural or proper that one does not perform a certain action. It is stronger than 〜ないほうがいい (which is a subjective suggestion) and more focused on propriety than 〜てはいけない (which is a direct prohibition or rule).

2. Formation

  • Verbs: Dictionary form + べきではない (e.g., 行くべきではない).
  • Suru-verbs: Can be either すべきではない (formal/traditional) or するべきではない (modern/common).
  • い-adjectives: Remove 〜い, add くあるべきではない (e.g., 高くあるべきではない).
  • な-adjectives/Nouns: Use the form [Noun/Adj] + であるべきではない.

3. Past Tense: Regret and Criticism
The past tense form 〜べきではなかった is used to express regret about one's own past actions ("I should not have...") or to criticize someone else's past behavior. It implies that the action taken was inappropriate or a mistake.

4. Register
This is a formal to standard expression. In casual speech, it is often shortened to 〜べきじゃない. The form 〜べきでない (omitting the particle は) is the standard negative form used in formal writing, objective reporting, and the 'dearu' style.

Examples (6)

  1. 人を見た目で判断すべきではない。

    One should not judge people by their appearances.

    Word by Word: People (object) appearance by judge should not.

    This expresses a general moral principle using the formal すべき form.

  2. そんな大切なことを一人で決めるべきではありません。

    You should not decide such an important matter by yourself.

    Word by Word: That kind of important thing (object) one person by decide should not is.

    Here, it is used to give strong advice based on social common sense. The polite ありません is used for the ending.

  3. 子供の前でそのような話をするべきではないと思う。

    I don't think one should talk about such things in front of children.

    Word by Word: Children's front at that kind of talk (object) do should not (quotation) think.

    This uses the modern するべき form to express a judgment on what is appropriate behavior.

  4. プロの選手なら、不真面目であるべきではない。

    If one is a professional athlete, they should not be insincere.

    Word by Word: Pro athlete if, insincere be should not.

    Demonstrates how to use the pattern with a な-adjective by adding である.

  5. 食料品は高くあるべきではない。

    Food should not be expensive.

    Word by Word: Food (topic) expensive be should not.

    Demonstrates the conjugation for い-adjectives by changing the ending to く and adding あるべきではない.

  6. あんなひどいことを言うべきではなかった。

    I should not have said such a terrible thing.

    Word by Word: That kind of terrible thing (object) say should not have been.

    This uses the past tense form 〜べきではなかった to express regret about a past action.

Common Mistakes

  • Negating the verb instead of the copula.

    行かないべきだ。
    行くべきではない。

    In standard Japanese, you must use the dictionary form of the verb and negate the べき part (べきではない), rather than using the negative ない form of the verb.

  • Using it for light, casual advice.

    もっと野菜を食べるべきではない？
    もっと野菜を食べたほうがいいんじゃない？

    〜べきではない sounds preachy or like a moral lecture. For light suggestions like 'you shouldn't eat so much junk food,' use 〜ないほうがいい instead.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

〜べきではないLevel 4Should Not

Learn This First

To understand '〜べきではない' (should not), you first need to understand the positive obligation '〜べきだ' (should). Since 'べき' functions like a noun, you must also be familiar with basic negation using 'ではない' and how to attach these structures to the dictionary form of various verb groups.

Words in This Pattern

べきではない可き