应该 (yīnggāi) · should

应该 (yīnggāi) means “should; ought to”. It is written with 2 characters: 应 (should) + 该 (should). It is an HSK 3 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).

How 应该 is built

The characters

应 yīng · should

What 应 is made of

广guǎng — broad
- 丶 — dot
- 厂chǎng — cliff
⺍ — three-stroke
一 — horizontal stroke

该 gāi · should

What 该 is made of

讠yán — speech
亥hài — 12th terrestrial branch
- 亠tóu — lid
  - 丶 — dot
  - 一 — horizontal stroke

Origin hint: 讠 gives the meaning, 亥 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

Example sentences

你应该多休息。Nǐ yīnggāi duō xiūxi.You should rest more.

我应该什么时候去？Wǒ yīnggāi shénme shíhou qù?When should I go?

Questions about 应该

What does 应该 mean?

应该 (yīnggāi) means “should; ought to”.

How do you pronounce 应该?

应该 is pronounced yīnggāi.

Which HSK level is 应该?

应该 is in HSK 3 (exam 2025) and HSK 2 (2021) and Old HSK 3.

Related words

Learn 应该 with its group

It is part of HSK 2 (2021) · Group 51: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.

Open the group