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March 24, 2026
该(該)gāi(gai1)
该 (gāi) is used to express obligation or necessity, conveying meanings such as 'should', 'ought to', or 'must'. It can also indicate that something is due or deserved, often appearing in contexts where a recommendation or expectation is made.
Strokes8Radical讠Frequency#129DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of obligation is often tied to social harmony and collective responsibility, making 该 a useful word in discussions about duties and expectations within relationships or communities.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person named 'Guy' who always says, 'You should do this.' This connects the pronunciation 'gāi' to the idea of obligation. The character 该 resembles a structure with a roof (the top component) indicating something important that ought to happen underneath.
Meanings of 该
gāi(gai1)
1should
2ought to
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 该
该Simplified
該Traditional
8Strokes
讠Radical
代词dàicípronoun (pron.)Part of Speech
#129Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2YCTL3HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 该
Podcast: 该
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AI Study Notes for 该
Quick Contrast
该 (gāi) vs 应该 (yīnggāi) — use 该 for a more direct expression of obligation, while 应该 adds an element of suggestion or recommendation.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person named 'Guy' who always says, 'You should do this.' This connects the pronunciation 'gāi' to the idea of obligation. The character 该 resembles a structure with a roof (the top component) indicating something important that ought to happen underneath.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 该 with other modal verbs like 能 (néng) meaning 'can' or 要 (yào) meaning 'want'. Although it can be used in both formal and informal contexts, it's essential to use it appropriately to convey obligation rather than mere suggestion.
HSK Study Tips
While 该 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects to HSK Level 3 words related to obligation, such as 应该 (yīnggāi, 'should'). Students should practice using it in sentences to express necessity or recommendations.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of obligation is often tied to social harmony and collective responsibility, making 该 a useful word in discussions about duties and expectations within relationships or communities.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 该 with 还 (hái, 'still' or 'also') in sentences, leading to improper usage. For example, saying '我该还去吗?' (Wǒ gāi hái qù ma?) instead of '我该去吗?' (Wǒ gāi qù ma?) which correctly means 'Should I go?'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 该
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Grammar Patterns of 该
该 functions as a pronoun — it stands in for a noun. Use it in the same positions as nouns (subject before verb, object after). Plurals are formed by adding 们 (我们, 他们). It carries 10 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
The direction of the prevailing winds should be taken into account.
10
该公司不得不为裁员支付4.72亿英镑的补偿款。
gāi gōng sī bù dé bù wéi cái yuán zhī fù4.72 4.72 yì yīng bàng de bǔ cháng。
The company has had to make redundancy payments of £472 million.
Cultural Notes for 该
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of obligation is often tied to social harmony and collective responsibility, making 该 a useful word in discussions about duties and expectations within relationships or communities.
Word Family of 该
Words Containing This Character7
该gāishould該
应该yīnggāiought to應該
该死Damn it!該死
不该should not不該
活该huógāiought活該
该当should該當
合该ought to合該
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 该 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 该
You can use 该 to express obligation, for example: 我该去上班 (Wǒ gāi qù shàngbān) means 'I should go to work.'
Yes, 该 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious about the tone of your overall message.
Yes, 该 can also express probability, as in 这件事该是对的 (Zhè jiàn shì gāi shì duì de), meaning 'This matter should be correct.'
